SUNGAI LONG: Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) has launched the Tun Tan Cheng Lock Institute of Social Studies (TCLI) at its Sungai Long Campus on Monday (April 21).
The centre is built on the foundation laid by the Tun Tan Cheng Lock Centre for Social and Policy Studies (TCLC), which was established in 2017.
MCA President Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong said the initiative not only commemorates one of Malaysia’s founding fathers but also reflects the enduring importance of research, civic awareness, and inclusive dialogue in our society.
“Let his legacy remind us that meaningful change is not achieved by standing on the sidelines but by engaging with others, including those with differing views, to build something better together,” he said during the TCLI launch ceremony here.
The TCLI was established to honour the legacy of Malaysian statesman Tun Tan Cheng Lock, who played a pivotal role in Malaya’s path to independence.
The TCLI will serve as a research hub, consolidating the work of two key centres under its umbrella - the Centre for Social and Policy Studies (CSPS) and the Asean Research Centre for a Community with Shared Future (ACSF).
Both centres aim to promote high-impact, interdisciplinary research, policy dialogues, and regional collaboration on issues related to society, governance, and cultural development.
UTAR president Prof Datuk Dr Ewe Hong Tat said the TCLI represents a renewed commitment to understanding the challenges facing society and thoughtful, evidence-based solutions for the future.
“TCLI will serve as a dynamic platform for interdisciplinary research, policy analysis, and academic knowledge.
“Institutes like TCLI are not built only with bricks and budgets, but with ideals, aspirations, and deep belief in the power of knowledge to shape a better world,” he said.
