Govt approves RM40 million allocation to end funding controversy for TAR UMT

The government has approved an allocation of RM40 million for the Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT), ending the funding controversy surrounding the private higher education institution.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the government did not want to prolong the controversy just because of the university's ties with MCA, adding that it would continue to support it and provide it with funds.

"We want to move forward together. The issues that we can solve, we try to solve as best as possible... This is one of the issues that caused political clashes before.

"Today's government is a government that transcends coalitions and political parties. We want to reduce differences and increase similarities," he said at a press conference after a meeting with the TAR UMT board of trustees in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

At the meeting, Loke handed over a letter of approval and a mock cheque to the university on behalf of the government.
 
The allocation is expected to be transferred to the university’s management on Jan 18.

Also present at the meeting were MCA president and TAR UMT board of trustees chairman Wee Ka Siong, Deputy Finance Minister Steven Sim, former MCA president Liow Tiong Lai and former MCA deputy president Chan Kong Choy.

Wee described the approval as a New Year "ang pau" for the university and expressed his gratitude to the government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

In 2019, the matching grant previously provided by the Barisan Nasional government was cut off and its development grant was also reduced to RM1 million.