Parents to pay more for varsity fees

KUALA LUMPUR: Parents may have to fork out more for their children’s education at Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TAR UC), says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

The MCA president said the government only provided the institution with a development fund of RM5.5mil instead of the RM30mil matching grant.

“By not giving any matching grant, we have no choice but to increase the tuition fees.

“The matching grant is a commitment made to MCA by the previous administration to ensure that these institutions continue to offer quality education to the young.

“The matching grant is part of the government’s subsidy so that parents will not be burdened by high tuition fees,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby yesterday.

On Wednesday, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said that MCA should break its ties with Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) and TAR UC before the government could provide more allocation for the two institutions.

Lim said UTAR and TAR UC should not be owned by MCA.

Dr Wee, who is the Ayer Hitam MP, questioned the decision which he described as cruel.

“Now you (Lim) are the Finance Minister and have the power to decide and yet you do not want to help, simply because we are political rivals.

“We just want what we are entitled to. In the past, it was given to us by the government with the undertaking that they will assist us.

“Why can’t this be continued? Why so cruel?” he asked.

Dr Wee said it was MCA’s duty to ensure that the younger generation received quality education.

“People may continue to whack and condemn MCA for whatever political reasons but it is our duty in ensuring quality education for the young,” he said.