Celebrating 4 Decades of Benevolence: Transforming Lives Beyond Education

Anniversaries are a cause for celebration and 2019 has been a nostalgic year for Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (‘TAR UC’). After celebrating our 50th anniversary in March, TARCians once again gathered to celebrate yet another milestone in TAR UC’s history – the 40th anniversary of the TAR UC Student Loan Fund on 13 November 2019 at TAR UC’s Kuala Lumpur Main Campus.

Formerly known as the TARC Student Loan Fund, the revolving TAR UC Student Loan Fund was established in 1979 with the aim to provide financial assistance to needy and deserving students to successfully complete their studies at TAR UC. “With the help of these loans, recipients were able to complete their education and achieve their dreams of becoming productive members of society,” said Dato’ Sri Dr Hou Kok Chung, Member of the Board of Trustees of TARC Education Foundation and Member of the Board of Governors of TAR UC in his speech at the TAR UC Student Loan Fund donor appreciation ceremony.

“I have no doubt that the loan recipients are thankful for the support extended to them. This would not be possible without the generosity of all the donors, who have helped make a significant and positive difference in the lives of the recipients.”

With tremendous support from the donors over the past 40 years, the TAR UC Student Loan Fund has received a total of close to RM18 million worth of funds whereby more than 12,000 loan awards worth close to RM37.5 million have been disbursed to needy and deserving students.

In an email interview, one of the donors, Datin Paduka Tan Siok Choo, daughter of the late Tun Tan Siew Sin spoke about how the TARC – Tun Tan Siew Sin Student Loan was established in 2011. “Education was important to both my father and grandfather (the late Tun Tan Cheng Lock). And since TAR College was initiated and established by my father, the Tan family decided to set up a loan in my father’s name so that more students would benefit from it. My father would have been proud to know that TAR UC has grown significantly in terms of students, campuses throughout Malaysia and the increasing number of programmes offered,” she shared.

During the ceremony, donors were presented a plaque for each of the student loan they established as a gesture of appreciation for their support and generosity. Loan recipients from far and near also shared how the financial aid they received had made a difference for the better.

Mr Hon Fun Ping, a former recipient of the TARC – Lee Foundation Student Loan back in 1994 and currently the CEO of NetAssist (M) Sdn Bhd shared his that the student loan he received was sufficient to not only covered his tuition fees but also covered his living expenses.

“I came from a very poor family. Because I am the eldest in the family, it would not be fair to my younger siblings if I deprive them of the education that they deserve. To the donors of these student loans, your generosity has changed my world and will continue to change the lives of others in need,” he said.

Another recipient, Ms Yaamini A/P Ravindra Kumar, a Year 2 Diploma in Sports and Exercise Science student also shared how the TARC – Toh Kim Eng Student Loan provided her with the means to continue her studies after her parents’ business went under.

“Being the only child, I had to take over my dad’s role as the breadwinner of the family when his business went under and when he fell ill. Because of this I had to defer my studies for a year to help my family while my dad was unable to provide for us,” she shared. “The student loan helped ease my financial burden when I decided to resume my studies at TAR UC following my dad’s recovery.”

The momentous occasion was made even more meaningful with the establishment of the 39th donor loan, the TARC – Lee Thong Lock Family Student Loan with an initial fund amount of RM100,000. A mock cheque was presented to Dato’ Sri Dr Hou Kok Chung and TAR UC President, Prof Ir Dr Lee Sze Wei, by representatives of the Lee family, Mr Lee Choon Seng and Mr Lee Lin Seng.