KUALA LUMPUR: Barisan Nasional Chairman Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has assured the MCA that the tax exemption issues surrounding Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) will be properly resolved.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Umno President said the government would do “something better” after this, in addition to granting tax exemption to UTAR and cancelling taxes and fines amounting to RM83mil.
“If this is what the MCA President asks for, don’t worry, your brother will be with you all the way.
‘Mei you wen ti. Wen ti bu da’ (No problem, this is not a big issue),” he said to loud cheers from delegates during his speech at the opening of the 71st MCA Annual General Meeting at Wisma MCA on Sunday (Oct 20).
Earlier, MCA President Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong, in his speech, requested that the government give permanent tax exemption status to UTAR and the UTAR Education Foundation (UTAREF), which owns and operates UTAR.
Despite the tax exemption and cancelled taxes and fines, he emphasised that the core issue still needed to be resolved.
Dr Wee also called for the continuation of the matching grant allocation for the Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) indefinitely, noting that it had been a government commitment since the establishment of the institution.
TAR UMT, formerly known as Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TAR UC), was upgraded to a university in 2022, originally founded as Tunku Abdul Rahman College (TARC) in 1969.
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Ahmad Zahid expressed confidence that the indefinite matching grant allocation had room for further discussion.
“We can talk about this. If the request is for the allocation to be indefinite, I will fight for it together with MCA.
“We are brothers; we are family,” he said, earning more applause from the floor.
“On this matter, I believe we will see something better. I feel that there’s light at the end of the tunnel for Barisan, and I hope I’m not wrong about that,” he added.
During his speech, Ahmad Zahid also extended birthday wishes to Dr Wee, who celebrated his 56th birthday on Sunday (Oct 20).
He further announced that Dr Wee had been appointed as the investment adviser for Chinese nationals and companies under the Deputy Prime Minister’s Office.
“As an initial step, I’d like to announce a RM5bil investment from Chinese companies for a dedicated halal industrial zone, a joint effort between Ka Siong and myself. This demonstrates our excellent cooperation without any hidden agendas,” he stated.
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Also present at the AGM were Umno Deputy President Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, Barisan Secretary-General Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, who is also an Umno Supreme Council member, and MIC Deputy President Datuk Seri M. Saravanan, representing MIC President Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran.
Ahmad Zahid also thanked the MCA and MIC for remaining steadfast allies within Barisan.
“The wisdom of MCA and MIC leaders in standing alongside us for so long is truly appreciated. I am also grateful to see many of my comrades here today, especially when I remember my time in detention under the (now-repealed) Internal Security Act, where I shared a room with my dear friend, Datuk Yap Pian Hon, whom I deeply respect as an elder brother.”
Ahmad Zahid also mentioned his old political friends, including his “political mentor,” former MCA President Tan Sri Tan Koon Swan, and his “brother in the Cabinet,” former MCA President Tan Sri Liow Tiong Lai.
“This spirit of unity between MCA, MIC, and PBRS within Barisan is what we aim to maintain as we face future challenges together,” he concluded.
