JOINT MEDIA INTERVIEW ON THE LAUNCHING OF THE “MCA FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN FOR UTAR HOSPITAL” WITH MCA FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON

                              DATO’ DR. MAH HANG SOON

1) Why does MCA want to raise funds for UTAR Hospital?

To continue UTAR’s legacy of providing affordable yet quality education. MCA’s mission in establishing Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TARUC) and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) has always been to create affordable access to quality education for students to make their dreams a reality.

It is a fact that TARUC and UTAR were established under the leadership of MCA. At the time of pre-establishment for both higher-learning institutions, a multi-pronged approach was deployed to source and raise funds from the public, solicit donations from corporations, and secure funding from the government for the purpose of constructing the institutions brick by brick.

Both TARUC and UTAR received great support and contributions from the people and in return, many youths were provided with quality affordable education that enriched their lives and the lives of their families. In return, they enter society and the workforce as high-functioning individuals working to better the community and repay society.

UTAR Hospital inherits the same concept and spirit – by the people, for the people. This spirit will be used to operate UTAR Hospital which is a not-for-profit hospital. It is built with support and contribution from donors, the community and the general public. With such support received, the Hospital can move forward to achieve its aim to provide quality affordable medical and health services to serve the community.

I believe UTAR Hospital is one of the few affiliated hospitals founded by a private university in our country. I am confident UTAR Hospital will open a new page in the development of public healthcare in Malaysia. Thus, the construction of UTAR Hospital is not only a new chapter in UTAR’s history, it is also a historic milestone for Kamparians and the entire state of Perak.

MCA will not shy away from our responsibility to assist in raising funds for UTAR Hospital, which will not only nurture medical talents for the country, but also bring benefits to the general public by playing a role in helping to consolidate our country's medical services and offer patients more healthcare options.

2) Overview of UTAR Hospital

In a bid to expand its offerings, UTAR launched the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences in 2009, 7 years after it first started operations, with the goal to nurture and train medical talents who would be able to provide quality medical and healthcare services to the community at large and lay a solid foundation to realise the nation’s aspirations for quality medical and healthcare services.

To further expand on this ideal, the UTAR Hospital project was launched in UTAR Kampar, Perak campus. The UTAR Hospital, which aims to offer quality medical and healthcare services at affordable and reasonable prices, will be equipped with both modern medical facilities and quality supplementary traditional knowledge such as Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda Medicine, and Traditional Malay Medicine.

Easily accessible by residents from neighboring townships such as Ipoh, Gopeng, Tapah, Proton City, Tanjong Malim, Teluk Intan, Malim Nawar and more, Kampar is a strategic location for the UTAR Hospital - which will be able to provide the people with better healthcare services once it’s completed. The scenery of the vicinity is beautiful, serene and spacious, making Kampar the ideal location for the hospital.

The initial plan was to construct a general hospital with 250 beds for Western medical treatment and 100 beds for Traditional and Complementary medical treatment (Chinese, Ayurveda and Traditional Malay Medicine). In Phase 2 there will be an additional 250 beds. The Hospital facilities will include clinical consultation and hospitalisation, diagnosis and treatment, medical and non-medical support, research and education facilities, as well as an administration centre for educators and students.

3) Overview of Graduates from UTAR Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

As of 2020, UTAR produced over 69,000 talents for the nation since it first opened its doors in 2002. The university’s Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences that was set up in 2009 has now graduated 620 medical professionals.

All graduates enrolled in UTAR’s medical sciences programmes have since been recruited into government hospitals, thereby injecting new talents into our nation’s public healthcare system.

The university’s Chinese physicians, physiotherapists and nursing graduates, as well as Masters and PhD holders are now part of the healthcare sector’s workforce.

In comparison to other private medical schools in the country, UTAR’s Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences offers the most affordable quality medical education. Students who enrolled in the faculty graduate with a holistic outlook and are ready to serve in any corner of the world.

4) UTAR Hospital Board

Board Members of UTAR Hospital will consist of renowned scholars in the medical sector,doctors, entreprenuers and professionals . They are:

1. Ir. Academician Emeritus Prof. Tan Sri Dato’ Dr. Chuah Hean Teik (Chairman)

2. Emeritus Prof. Dato’ Dr. Tan Chong Tin

3. Prof. Dr. Tunku Kamarul Zaman

4. Dato’ Tan Ghee Phaik

5. Dr. Hew Fen Lee

6. Mr. Chu Jenn Weng

7. Datuk Dr. Joseph Ong Ah Soon

8. Dato’ Dr. Neoh Soon Bin

9. Dr. Chua Chin Teong

10. Mr. Eric Ooi Lip Aun

11. Ir. Prof. Dr. Ewe Hong Tat

12. Academician Emeritus Prof. Dr. Cheong Soon Keng

13. Dr. Te Kian Keong

14. Dato’ Dr. Patrick Tan Seow Koon (Honorary Advisor)

5) Fundraising Targets

The total cost for the construction, facilities, and equipment for UTAR Hospital is estimated to be RM330 million. MCA will be helping to raise funds for UTAR Hospital in phases. We aim to raise RM3.45 million in the first phase.

6) Launch of the MCA Fundraising Campaign for UTAR Hospital

The MCA Fundraising Campaign for UTAR Hospital will be launched nationally at 10.30am on 8 May 2021(Saturday).

7) Fundraising Methods

The MCA Fundraising Committee for UTAR Hospital will assist to raise funds for the Hospital through the sale of Golden Brick coupons across the country, charity sales and perhaps charity runs - if the pandemic takes a better turn. Our MCA State Liaison Committees, Divisions and Branches will respectively organise fund-raising campaigns for the hospital as well. Corporations and businesses are encouraged to make big-ticket donations in the form of financial aid or much needed equipment such as hospital beds, ambulances, among others, and participate in the plan to cultivate future talents in the spirit of receiving from the public and returning to society. In return, the corporate donors may have wards or operating theatres named after them.

26 April 2021

-MCA online-