Opening doors: TARC Education Foundation board of trustees member Tan Sri Liow Tiong Lai, Chan and TAR UMT president Prof Datuk Dr Lee Sze Wei (seated sixth, seventh and eighth from left, respectively) with the Student Loan Fund donors.
Yap Li Wen grew up in an orphanage where her father works as a driver. Coming from a single-parent family, she was determined to further her studies but never imagined that she would have the opportunity to do so at a private university.
With her father’s encouragement, she enrolled at Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) as a diploma student and is now pursuing her Bachelor of Communication (Honours) in Media Studies, thanks to the varsity’s Student Loan Fund.
“I will always be grateful for this life-changing help, and I will do my best in my degree as a gesture of appreciation to the donors,” she said during the fund’s inaugural appreciation luncheon.
Themed “Legacy of Support”, the event was held at the TAR UMT Arena multipurpose hall on Nov 12.
Fellow loan recipient Nurzulaikha Jamaludin, who is pursuing her degree in English Studies, has pledged to give back to society by educating the next generation of youth.
Driven by a passion for languages, she aspires to be a professional translator in English and Korean, as well as a lecturer.
“Although I have received offers to be a translator, I wanted to pursue a degree first, as I know I won’t thrive in the industry without a proper qualification.
“If I end up lecturing at TAR UMT, I can impart knowledge and skills as a way of contributing to the community,” she said.
Expressing gratitude to donors for their generosity, TAR UMT board of governors and alumni council chairman Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy said the Student Loan Fund has profoundly impacted the varsity community.
The TAR UMT Student Loan Fund, he said, stands as a legacy of support that continues to open doors for qualified students.
“Through these loans, recipients have been able to complete their education, achieve their dreams, and contribute meaningfully to society. None of this would have been possible without your generosity and belief in the power of education.
“Your continued trust and support ensure a lifeline for our university, enabling students to study without financial worry,” Chan said in his speech.
Established in 1979, the TAR UMT Student Loan Fund is an interest-free revolving loan fund to assist deserving students based on family income and academic merit.
From a handful of donors in its early years, TAR UMT now has 135 donors who have established student loan funds for its students.
To date, more than 17,000 loan awards, amounting to over RM74 mil, have been disbursed.
During the luncheon, donors and loan recipients were seated together to foster personal connections and exchange experiences.
This arrangement allowed donors to witness firsthand the impact of their generosity, while recipients were encouraged to express their appreciation and aspirations.
Chan said the loan is about more than financial help; it represents the donors’ trust and belief in the individual’s potential.
“When you are in a position to do so, remember to pay it forward, because that’s how this beautiful legacy of support continues,” he told the recipients.
