TAR UC’s Founding Leaders Honoured in Conjunction with 50th Anniversary Celebration

Everyone in attendance at the Going 50: People Behind The TARC History ceremony posing for a group photograph. Among the attendees are (front row, from left) Mr Khaw Chay Tee, Ms Dorothy Lew, Datin Paduka Tan Siok Choo, Tan Sri Dr Ng Lay Swee, Dato’ Kum Boo, Toh Puan Ena Ling, Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik, Dato’ Sri Liow Tiong Lai, Datuk Dr Tan Chik Heok, Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Kong Cho Ha, member of the Board of Trustees of TARC Education Foundation, Tan Sri Dato’ Lau Yin Pin, member of the Board of Trustees of TARC Education Foundation, Senator Datuk Seri Dr Hou Kok Chung, Deputy Chairman of the Board of Governors of TAR UC, and members of the Board of Governors of TAR UC, Dato’ Ir Dr Gue See Sew, Dato’ Yap Kuak Fong and Mr Adrian Yeo Eng Hui.

Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TAR UC) will be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2019 and the commencement of the countdown towards the golden celebration took place on 13 February 2018 by paying tribute to its founding leaders in a grand ceremony held at the University College Hall, Kuala Lumpur Main Campus.

Founded in 1969, TAR UC would have been in operation for exactly five decades on 24 February 2019. To get the momentum building up to the 50th anniversary next year, the ceremony titled “Going 50: People Behind The TARC History” honoured 10 of the founding leaders of the then TAR College by naming 10 key buildings in TAR UC Kuala Lumpur Main Campus after them as a sincere gesture of respect and gratitude for their respective contribution and sacrifice to the development and growth of TAR College and TAR UC we see today.

The 10 founding leaders and buildings named after them are as below:

Dato’ Sri Liow Tiong Lai, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, TARC Education Foundation and Board of Governors, TAR UC, in his welcome address extolled the contribution made by the founding leaders. “In view of all the founding leaders’ immeasurable contribution, this event will witness 10 buildings in TAR UC to be named after them as a gesture of gratitude as well as to honour them for their exemplary work for the institution.”

“This event is truly a meaningful occasion for us to remember and cherish. It also reminds us of our Asian values that we should always hold dear our respect for the elders and to have a great sense of gratitude,” said Dato’ Sri Liow Tiong Lai who was present to host the event.

“Over the course of five decades, TAR UC is still relevant as the University College continues to rise up and be recognised as one of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning in the country and abroad. Having said that, all the achievements would not have been possible without the visionary foresight and strong leadership of its founding leaders who laid the firm foundation on which TAR UC could stand strong and grow,” he added.

At the ceremony, Dato’ Sri Liow also officially started the countdown to TAR UC’s 50th anniversary witnessed by approximately 1,800 guests present at the event.

Among those who attended the event were Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik accompanied by Toh Puan Ena Ling, Datuk Dr Tan Chik Heok, President of TAR UC, Tan Sri Dr Ng Lay Swee, Dato’ Kum Boo, Datin Paduka Tan Siok Choo, daughter of the late Tun Tan Siew Sin together with her sisters Tan Siok Eng and Tan Siok Lee, as well as Mr Khaw Chay Tee, son of the late Tan Sri Khaw Khai Boh, and Ms Dorothy Lew, daughter of the late Dato’ (Dr) Lew Sip Hon.

All the guests were also invited to a lunch held at the Sports Complex after the event, and followed by a private tour for the founding leaders present as well as the family members of departed leaders to the buildings which were named after the respective founding leaders.

Dato’ Sri Liow Tiong Lai (sixth, from left) launches the countdown to TAR UC’s 50th anniversary as Datuk Dr Tan Chik Heok (seventh, from left) looks on. Accompanying them on stage are (from left) Mr Adrian Yeo Eng Hui, Dato’ Ir Dr Gue See Sew, Tan Sri Dato’ Lau Yin Pin, Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Kong Cho Ha, Senator Datuk Seri Dr Hou Kok Chung, (from right) Mr Khaw Chay Tee, Dato’ Yap Kuak Fong, Ms Dorothy Lew, Datin Paduka Tan Siok Choo, Tan Sri Dr Ng Lay Swee and Dato’ Kum Boo.	(From left) Tan Siok Lee, Datin Paduka Tan Siok Choo, and Tan Siok Eng, standing next to the plaque, located at Bangunan Tun Tan Siew Sin, honouring their father the late Tun Tan Siew Sin. The plaque contains an inscription that explains his contribution in the setting up of the then TAR College
Tan Sri Dr Ng Lay Swee (left) and her husband, Prof Dr Lim Tiong Koon, posing for a photo in front of the plaque dedicated to her contributions towards TAR College. Block D is named after her to honour her role as the first Head of School of Arts and Science.	TAR UC’s Cyber Centre is named after Tun Dr Ling Liong Sik (3rd from right) for his role as the longest serving Chairman of TAR College Council, from 1986 – 2004. Under his tenure, he spearheaded many expansionary initiatives which allowed TAR College to achieve tremendous growth. His visionary leadership led to the expansion of the Kuala Lumpur Main Campus and the establishment of branch campus in Penang, Perak, Johor, Pahang and Sabah.
Dato’ Kum Boo (2nd from left) with his wife and grandchildren standing in front of the plaque dedicated to him. Block M is named after him to honour of him as the first Head of School of Technology.	Ms Dorothy Lew (3rd from left), daughter of the late Dato’ (Dr) Lew Sip Hon unveiling the plaque dedicated to him at DK A.
Mr Khaw Chay Tee, son of the late Tan Sri Khaw Kai Boh, unveiling the plaque dedicated to his father. Bangunan Tan Sri Khaw Kai Boh is named after him to honour his role as Chairman of the Working Team for Higher Education Planning and Chairman of the Interim Council.