Guan Eng's 'job' is not about attacking TAR UC, says MCA sec-gen

KUALA LUMPUR: The job of Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng is not about attacking Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TAR UC), which has a good track record since it was set up 50 years ago by MCA, says Datuk Chong Sin Woon.

The MCA secretary-general claimed the DAP secretary-general had been using his government portfolio for political mileage for over a year now, adding that his attacks on TAR UC had to stop.

Lim has insisted that TAR UC must severe ties with MCA before he gives the institution financial aid, which Chong claimed was an abuse of power.

Chong said that the country was plagued by many economic issues and that the people were suffering as a result.

"But you (Lim) choose to target MCA and in doing so, you attack an institution recognised and supported by the (previous) government all this while to provide affordable education to the people.

"All this is political and must be put to a stop," Chong, a former deputy education minister, told reporters at Wisma MCA here on Thursday (Nov 28).

He noted that TAR UC (set up by MCA as Tunku Abdul Rahman College in 1969 and upgraded to university college in 2013) is governed by relevant laws in the country.

Lim had denied TAR UC the RM30mil annual matching grants from the government this year and next year, amounting to RM60mil.

The Barisan Nasional government had given grants to the institution for the last 50 years to keep fees affordable for low- and middle-income groups.