Mara to stop sponsoring students to Taylor’s University, says minister

Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob says Mara will not be paying for any more students to pursue their education at Taylor's University. – The Malaysian Insider filepic, September 21, 2015.Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara) will no longer be sponsoring any student to Taylor's University over myriad reasons, said Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob today.

In an immediate response, Taylor's deputy vice-chancellor Dr Pradeep Nair told The Malaysian Insider that Mara has yet to inform the university about any such directive.

"We have not received any formal notification from Mara to this effect. Until such time, we won't be able to release any comments on this," he said when contacted.

Ismail Sabri, in announcing this, however, did not specify the reasons behind the decision, The Star reported.

“There are many reasons,” he was quoted as saying when asked if the decision had anything to do with Taylor's terminating the contract of bus operators that used its logo on vehicles to ferry people to the “Himpunan Rakyat Bersatu” or 'red shirt' rally in Kuala Lumpur last week.

“But I would like to clarify that we will not terminate the sponsorship for existing students, as they could carry on with their studies. Only the next intake will be affected."

The Umno minister added that he would speak to Mara director-general, Datuk Ibrahim Ahmad, to review its sponsorship to the university.

Taylor's University terminated its contract with Wawasan Sutera last Thursday, a day after the rally took place on September 16. It said that the bus services will continue to run until the termination notice on November 16.

It also said it did not authorise use of the bus bearing its logo, to ferry 'red shirt' rally goers.

Ismail Sabri has gained notoriety in recent months over his racial remarks, such as his call for Malays to boycott Chinese traders and his proposal for a Malays-only “Low Yat 2” electronics mall.

He was also one of the 'red shirt' rally's key supporters, saying earlier on that he would send members to join the gathering in his capacity as the Bera Umno division chief.

- TMI