Wee: Pakatan's defeat at Tg Piai due to public discontent over TAR UC allocation

KUALA LUMPUR: Pakatan Harapan's massive defeat in the Tanjung Piai by-election was a strong signal by the public that they disagreed with the reduced allocations for Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TAR UC) from RM5mil to RM1mil in Budget 2020, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong (pic). The MCA president said Lim Guan Eng's insistence to stand by his decision to reduce allocations for TAR UC reflected the sheer arrogance of the Finance Minister. "Such a significant signal was sent and he is still being stubborn with the decision. Just let him be. "He still insisted with such a decision, even though his party colleague Teo Nie Ching, which is the Deputy Education Minister, also said that it was among the reasons (causing defeat in Tanjung Piai polls)," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby on Tuesday (Nov 19). The Ayer Hitam MP said that MCA should not be blamed for the reduced allocations for TAR UC, pointing out that the party had founded the college which produced more than 200,000 graduates to date. "Is that our big sin? Let him be. We not only produced Chinese graduates. Even Agriculture and Agro-based Industry Minister Datuk Salahuddin Ayub was a graduate of TAR UC. "My advice to him is to please do as you please. You can be the king forever and maintain this arrogance and ego. Let the people judge. I'm already lazy to comment on this issue." Dr Wee said if Lim wanted to please the public about the issue, the Bagan MP could have announced increased allocations for TAR UC. "And yet, he still decided to maintain the shameful RM1mil allocation... I don't know if he assumes that this is a big success. Let him be. "I don't want to comment anymore, because he still thinks this is a smart decision and his intelligence cannot be disputed," Dr Wee said sarcastically. On Monday (Nov 18), Lim said the recognition of the United Examination Certificate (UEC) and the reduced allocations for TAR UC were not the main reasons that caused Pakatan's defeat in the Tanjung Piai by-election. Lim was quoted as saying that MCA must give up its political control of TAR UC if it wanted increased allocations. His remarks contradicted Teo who said the recognition of UEC and reduction of TAR UC allocations in Budget 2020 were among the reasons that caused Chinese votes to swing back to MCA during the recently-concluded Tanjung Piai by-election. Last Saturday (Nov 16), Pakatan was unexpectedly defeated by Barisan Nasional in the Tanjung Piai by-election with a huge 15,086 majority.