I will counter-attack, Lim warns MCA over move to raise TAR UC fees

Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng says he will counter-attack if MCA raises the tuition fees for Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TAR UC) next year without valid reasons.

He issued this warning after MCA president Wee Ka Siong said the fees for TAR UC might be increased by at least 15 percent after the government had reduced allocation to the institution, as announced in Budget 2019.

"When the previous administration reduced the allocation to the university from RM64.25 million in 2014 to RM34.2 million this year, MCA did not mention about increasing the fees.

"But when we reduced the allocation to RM5.5 million, Wee spoke of increasing the fees," Lim said at a 90-minutes meeting with Chinese dailies editors at Putrajaya today.

As such, he described Wee's action as throwing a challenge to his ministry.

"I am issuing a warning to MCA: don't do things as you like. (We will) monitor how much you want to increase and if that increment is rational," he said.

"If you want to hurt and victimise the student, I will counter-attack and will not remain idle. You will see what I am going to do to you," he said.

Yesterday, Wee said TAR UC may force to impose higher tuition fees next year if the government insists on not increasing the allocation to the university, which was set up by MCA in 1969.

Wee expected TAR UC to suffer a deficit of RM38 million next year.

"MCA has RM2 billion in assets. Are you saying you cannot fork out RM24.5 million (to cover the shortfall in TAR UC)?" asked Lim.

'Apply next year'

TAR UC is the only political party-run varsity that being given an allocation next year, he said.

To a question, Lim said it was hard for the government to engage in a discussion with MCA to increase the allocation for TAR UC following Wee's statement.

"I can only say, you can apply next year (for an allocation in Budget 2010), then we can talk about it," he said.

Lim, however, said the management of TAR UC and his ministry were in contact and he was willing to meet them.

Lim, who is also DAP secretary-general, insisted that a political party should not own an educational institution.

The government is currently channelling allocations for education institutions towards development expenditure to enable easier auditing. - Mkini