27 November 2018

Press statement by MCA Wanita Vice Chairman cum MCA Central Committee Member Dr. Pamela Yong

Just exactly who is using TAR UC and UTAR as political pawns?

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng is incorrect to drastically slash funding to the TAR institutions. The minimal funding by the government is a “social contract” soughted for the non-Malay community who were deprived of higher educational opportunities as a result of the introduction of racial quotas in the local university and higher educational institutions.

The previous administration had assisted TARC by providing for its operational expenses under a ringgit-to-ringgit basis since its inception, until 2013 when it was upgraded to a university college status.

Lim Guan Eng should not pick on, or victimise, these institutions purely due to their affiliation with MCA. Sadly, the attention was centered on their links to MCA as the founder of TAR UC and UTAR. In a nutshell, the government's sweeping generalisation is that MCA gains political mileage from its association with these two prestigious institutions.

To make it clear, MCA has never exploited either entity, nor the students and professionals that it churns out on a yearly basis. The only politicisation here was done by Lim Guan Eng, who recently condemned the institutions financially, on well, political grounds.

It is irrefutable that MCA played a paramount role in founding TAR UC and UTAR. We not only founded it, but we raised it, quite literally from the ground up, with sage vision, blood, sweat and tears. It was our self-determination (a term I use with the greatest of emphasis in this case) and our assurance that non-bumi children, for generations to come would have higher learning options available to them.

TAR UC (then TARC) started out as a college with humble beginnings. Courses were run in the borrowed classrooms of primary schools in Kuala Lumpur. In some instances, classes were even conducted outdoors. However, its not-for-profit premise, coupled with the financial prudence of MCA, has proven it a worthy initiative, and propelled the university college into the world stage. Today, TAR UC  comprises of one main campus in Kuala Lumpur, and five branch campuses across different states in Malaysia. It has established itself as one of the oldest learning institutions in Malaysia and has produced over 200,000 graduates.

Yes, MCA had a hell of a stint in government, but resting on our laurels with regards to education options for minority groups is certainly not one that we can take criticism.  That early vision, now spanning 50 over years stands firm. We sleep with one eye open over these years, so to speak, never waiting for our big brothers in government to layout opportunities on a silver platter.

Perhaps, as submissive as it made us look (certainly in the eyes of the voters), MCA is not simple-minded enough to believe that parliamentarian rhetorics or mass rallies in the street, fists pumped and banners raised, will win us that aspiration where every child born in Malaysia should, and rightfully be referred to as Anak Malaysia. On the contrary, it was such small-mindedness that caused the recent debacle, and subsequent back peddling by Pakatan Harapan involving the ICERD ratification. Recent events highlight a clear reflection of just how complex and challenging such an issue can be in Malaysia, requiring deep understanding and the initiation of delicate changes, instead of just big talk.

During our time we knew better, and we had the foresight to realise that our children would need a haven to pursue their tertiary education, not relying on any form of self-entitlement, stamping of feet or denigrating another just to get what we want. Many can fault MCA on many fronts but no one can fault us for being realistic and pragmatic. We made plans, and we executed those plans. Now 5 decades on, the graduates of TAR UC and UTAR reap the fruits of that vision.

So I ask those who condemn us, at which point did MCA fail TAR UC? At which juncture was TAR UC a flop? I would like to highlight that TAR UC is renowned for its accounting programme, and is the only ACCA Platinum Approved Learning Partner institution in the world! Yes, in the WORLD! 

MCA is not ashamed to say that we've had a hand in making TAR UC what it is today. We are not ashamed to say that we've had the good sense to put professionals at the top executive level to manage this non-profit private institution. So effective is its management, that we have healthy reserve funds to allow us the freedom to push forward our future expansion plans for the University. I will however reiterate that never over the past 50 years has MCA asserted any of our political ideals on any of our students, nor were our doors closed to those of different political standing to us. MCA kept TAR UC's doors open to all, irrespective.

Finally, I would like to pose a question to those who suggest it is time for MCA to detach itself from TAR UC, that it would be better off in someone else’s hands. Tell me this is not you politicising this issue, as some form of personal or political vendetta against MCA? Does it pain our past graduates to know that your professional position in life is due in part to this College / University? What grounds have you to suggest that another can do a better job than MCA, when one has not even founded nor managed a sekolah pondok! What notch have you got on your belt to tell us we have not done a good job?

The staunchest critics and those most known for pointing out the flaws or weaknesses of others, are most often the ones who are blind to their own shortcomings, insecurities and mistakes. It is best to take a mirror and examine one’s self, before riding a self-righteous high horse and accusing others of what you think they do wrong!

Dr. Pamela Yong
National MCA Wanita Vice Chairman
MCA Central Committee Member

-MCA Online-