Boost for education: Loke (second from right)handing over a mock cheque to Chan at the TAR UMT Kuala Lumpur campus. Also present are Lee (left) and Tan. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: The government will keep providing funds annually to Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) to keep course fees affordable, says Cabinet minister Anthony Loke.
He said that the government had consistently provided funds amounting to RM40mil annually since 2023.
“For the past two and a half years, we have granted RM120mil to TAR UMT.
“As far as the government is concerned, we do not have any issues in granting yearly allocation to TAR UMT,” he said during the cheque presentation ceremony yesterday.
Loke, who is Transport Minister, was tasked by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is also Finance Minister, to visit the university for the symbolic handover of the yearly funds.
The RM40mil fund for this year has already been sent to TAR UMT, he said.
He said that this is in line with the government’s policy to ensure there is quality education for all Malaysians.
“Education is our best investment for the country and for future generations.
“In the same spirit, we have shown it with an allocation to Chinese independent schools about a week ago, presented by the Prime Minister himself,” he said.
Loke said there should not be any political consideration as far as educational allocation is concerned.
With Malaysia moving towards a high-end and high-technology economy, he said there is a greater need for human capital in IT, artificial intelligence (AI), and in new technologies.
“I am sure TAR UMT is fully prepared to train more young Malaysians in these fields. I think they are very advanced in terms of designing new courses to meet the future needs of our country,” he said.
He also expressed his gratitude to TAR UMT for continuously keeping the fees low.
TAR UMT board of governors chairman Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy said that the university is grateful to receive the funds.
“The government has been helping us by way of grants and non-grants. This has enabled us to keep our fees very affordable and competitive,” he said.
He said the affordable fees have paved the way for young Malaysians, especially those who come from humble backgrounds, to pursue their tertiary education.
Chan said that the educational institution started in 1969 with 300 students.
Now, the university has expanded to 34,000 students in its main campuses and other branches, he said.
TAR UMT president Prof Datuk Dr Lee Sze Wei pointed out that one of the university’s main focuses for their courses is on AI.
AI subjects are part of the IT and computer science programmes, he said, adding that these are compulsory for them.
Also present at the event yesterday were TAR UMT vice-president Assoc Prof Dr Chook Ka Joo and alumni council deputy chairman Tan Chee Kian.
