DONATIONS for the Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) Hospital project continue to pour in as two non-governmental organisations hand over RM550,000 to the UTAR Education Foundation.
Choice Foundation donated RM400,000 while International Confederation of Moral Uplifting Societies gave RM150,000.
The mock cheque presentation was held at the hospital’s Traditional and Complementary Medicine (TCM) Centre in Kampar, Perak.
Choice Foundation founder and director Datuk William Toh Ah Wah and International Confederation of Moral Uplifting Societies president Lee See Jin presented the cheques to UTAR Education Foundation board of trustees chairman Tan Sri Dr Sak Cheng Lum.
UTAR president Prof Datuk Dr Ewe Hong Tat, who witnessed the presentation ceremony, thanked the donors and said the hospital would provide education and training for medical students and conduct medical research for the advancement of medicine and healthcare.
“UTAR Hospital is part of the growth and expansion of UTAR as a private university for the people by the people.
“Just as UTAR was set up as a not-for-profit university to provide quality affordable education to the people, the hospital will also be a not-for-profit private hospital providing affordable and quality medical services to the people,” he said.
The RM300mil hospital project offers TCM as well as western medical care.
Its TCM Centre began operations in April 2022 and has received over 9,000 patient visits for outpatient services within the first six months, while the western medicine unit is expected to start operations in early 2023.
Prof Ewe also thanked Choice Foundation for offering scholarships to support UTAR Foundation and Bachelor Honours degree programme students from low-income families, who excelled in both their academic studies and extra-curricular activities.
He said the scholarship was established in 2018 in UTAR, and since then, a total of 17 UTAR students from both the Kampar and Sungai Long campuses had benefitted from it.
“The scholarship covers full tuition fees, monthly allowance and accommodation allowance,” he added.
Lee said the purpose of the International Confederation of Moral Uplifting Societies was to promote moral education, guide people to do good and accumulate virtue.
“The concrete manifestation of morality is nothing but love, care and dedication.
“UTAR offering the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) programme and the setting up of its own hospital is indeed suitable because it will provide opportunities for financially underprivileged students to study medicine,” he said.
“This will eventually lead to them realising their dreams of becoming a doctor, serving the community and providing quality and affordable medical services to the general public in Kampar and Perak.
“This goal is certainly in line with the spirit of our confederation,” he added.
Lee also hopes that the donation will attract more associations and the public to support and contribute to the hospital project.
“I also urge the members and divisions of the confederation, as well as other associations to support the fundraising of UTAR Hospital,” he said.
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