KOTA KINABALU: A variety of new courses are needed at the Sabah branch of Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) to attract more students, says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.
The MCA president and TARC Education Foundation board of trustees chairman said the campus only has a few hundred students now.
“We have a capacity of 3,000 students and 10 courses to offer, as of now,” he said when visiting the campus in Alamesra near here yesterday. He noted that more efforts are needed to fill the total capacity of the university.
“The management can look at ways to provide more study and scholarship programmes as well as funding schemes for underprivileged students to further their tertiary education here.
“A more diversified selection of courses will also offer more options to students,” he added.
Dr Wee said the university is trying hard to ensure that every eligible student gets a chance to further his or her studies despite financial constraints.
“Currently, some 30% of students are non-Chinese from hard-to-do families,” he revealed, adding that poverty should not be a reason to stop a person from pursuing higher education.
On the planned officiating of the university branch, Dr Wee said he has invited Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor to grace the opening ceremony on a date which will be confirmed soon.
At the Sabah MCA annual general meeting earlier, he commended Hajiji for being a respected leader.“When the state was dealing with a political crisis over an attempt to overthrow the current state government, MCA was not part of it. After the crisis was over, Hajiji did not punish those involved.
This is very much respected and Hajiji deserved the people’s support,” he said, referring to the political crisis early this year when Sabah Umno leaders launched an attempt to oust Hajiji.
Last Saturday, Dr Wee met with Hajiji to discuss several current issues including the welfare for the Chinese community, strengthening the Sabah branch of TAR UMT to benefit more students as well as MCA’s preparedness to play a role in catalysing economic growth with more business and job opportunities for the locals.