Looking back: Chan and Lee (left and second from left) being interviewed by 988 deejay Angeline Ooi (right) at Menara Star in Petaling Jaya. — AZHAR MAHFOF/The Star
‘The Story of TARCians’ tells of how the varsity gave many young M’sians hope
PETALING JAYA: For students past and present, the red brick buildings at the Tunku Abdul Rahman College (TARC) campus here are a symbol of hope and resilience.
These red bricks of the buildings at the Setapak site, which was TARC’s first main campus, embody not just the physical foundation of the institution but also the promise of better days ahead for generations of youths.
Founded in 1969 to uplift underprivileged students, TARC’s journey to become a beacon of light for students has now been captured in a film titled The Story of TARCians.
“Looking back now, the red brick has a deep meaning, representing simplicity, strength, and solidarity,” said Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy, who studied two years at the college from 1974.
“It’s as if ‘TARCians’ are little red bricks, unpretentious on the outside, but strong individually, unafraid of the wind and rain.”
Chan, who was a guest on Radio 988’s Morning Up show yesterday, explained that TARC’s red brick design was primarily influenced by universities around the world at that time.
The institution had embraced the “red brick spirit”, he said.
“Red bricks symbolise simplicity, strength, and steadfastness.”
Recalling his time at TARC, he said that he might have ended up selling fried noodles in Bentong after finishing Form Five had he not entered the college after completing the Malaysian Certificate of Education (MCE).
“It was a period when many young Malaysians faced barriers in pursuing higher education due to strict university entry requirements and financial limitations.
“Many of us couldn’t afford to study abroad. The establishment of TARC was like a beacon in the darkness, providing us with the light of opportunity,” he said.
As such, he said TARC was a lifeline for him and his peers.
In the case of Chan, he went on to build an impressive resume, which included posts such as MCA deputy president and transport minister. He is now a successful businessman known for his philanthropy.
But his days in TARC reflect his humble beginnings.
He said he shared a small room in Taman Midah, Cheras, with a classmate from Negri Sembilan.
“Each of us paid only RM17.50 per month. In our free time, we would gather to talk and share stories about our lives. These hardships strengthened our bond,” he said.
Till now, Chan and his classmates gather annually to celebrate the enduring friendships they made at TARC.
“Last year, with the collective efforts of my fellow alumni, we raised RM23mil, increasing the number of student loan funds from 53 to 119,” he said.
He added that over the past 55 years, TARC has produced 320,000 graduates specialising in fields such as accounting, finance, management, and the sciences.
Chan, who is the Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology Alumni Council chairman, said the council partially funded the project.
“Here, I want to thank all the alumni of TAR UMT for consistently embodying the TARC spirit and giving back to our alma mater,” he said.
And to capture the essence of TARC’s legacy, filming for the 90-minute docudrama The Story of TARCians started on Jan 15.
Directed by Mark Lee See Teck, who despite not being an alumnus, devoted much of his time to extensive research to grasp the spirit of TARC, conducting interviews and collecting over 40 hours of footage.
“I wanted to speak with the pioneers and their successors to set the direction for the film,” he said, adding that he took care not to stray from historical facts.
As such, he said that alumni stories, like those from Chan, helped shape the narrative.
“This isn’t just TARC’s story; it’s about a generation who might take things for granted, unaware of the sacrifices made by those who came before them,” said Lee.
The docudrama features humorous moments as well, such as the trademark mushroom haircut of students.
It will have a nationwide release tomorrow.
