Aid for ‘humble home students’

KUALA LUMPUR: The annual financial support of RM40mil given by the government to Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) helps ensure students from “humble homes” get an education.

The university’s Board of Governor’s chairman and Alumni Council chairman Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy thanked the government and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim for the grant which is a recognition of the university’s 55 years of contribution in nation-building, training more than 300,000 graduates.

Chan said the RM40mil grant is important to ensure they can run their over 200 programmes across their main campus and branch campuses.

“For the past 55 years, many of our students are from very humble family backgrounds.

“We would not like to see students from humble beginnings, when they are short of financial aid, stop studying,” Chan said during the mock cheque presentation ceremony by the government to the university yesterday.

Chan said the annual allocation had been committed by the government since 2012.

“The presence of YB (Anthony Loke) here today shows the firm commitment of the government to the decision of the Cabinet in 2012 that they will continue supporting TAR UMT,” said Chan.

Generous allocation: Loke handing over a mock cheque to Chan at the TAR UMT Kuala Lumpur campus. With them are (from left) Deputy Chairman of the Board of Governors of TAR UMT Datuk Seri Dr Hou Kok Chung and TAR UMT President Prof Ir Dr Lee Sze Wei. — SAMUEL ONG/The Star

This is the second year Loke is presenting the mock cheque to TAR UMT on behalf of the government.

Chan said that since its inception, TAR UMT had disbursed more than 15,000 loans valued at approximately RM62mil to underprivileged students.

The university, he added, also offers an unlimited amount of merit scholarships that could go up to 100% waiver of tuition fees.

During the ceremony, Loke said the Madani government will uphold the decision of the previous government and is committed to continue to provide the fund to the not-for-profit university every year.

He said the Finance Ministry had approved the allocation on Feb 22 and on March 8, had channelled the funds directly into the university’s bank account.

He added that they are committed to ensure the funds are given during the first quarter of each year.

Loke said the allocation would help cover some of the operational costs and keep the university’s fees affordable.