GEORGE TOWN: Several hawkers and business owners are doing everything possible to raise funds for Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TAR UC).

In Kedah, a trader has been contributing RM1 to the institution for every kilo of meat sold at his stall.

An entertainment outlet operator in the same state also contributed RM10 for each bucket of beer ordered.

In Melaka, a trader donated the proceeds to the institution by selling off recycled items he had collected.

MCA Youth chief Nicole Wong said people of different races have come out with special and creative ideas to collect funds for the university college.

“I am very touched by their efforts.

“Many hawkers and business owners nationwide are thinking of ways to support TAR UC.

“This shows that the nation is feeling the pinch and has made a collective effort to show its support, ” she said after sampling curry noodles prepared by Loke Thean Meng, 59, at Sure Win Cafe in Jalan Lembah Permai, Tanjung Bungah, yesterday.

Loke is said to be the first to raise funds for TAR UC. He has been donating 10 sen to the institution for every bowl sold since November.

Following Loke’s noble deed, more people have come forward to help TAR UC.

Wong said she and her team members were there to show support for Loke’s good deed.

“About 30 hawkers nationwide have followed Loke and started to raise funds for the institution through their own unique ways, ” she said.

Wong also clarified that MCA was not involved in the fund collection and all donations would be channelled directly to a public account of TAR UC.

“As for MCA Youth, we have started the ‘Save TAR UC, Save Our Children’ petition, which is ongoing both online and on the ground, ” she said.

Meanwhile, Loke said he had been banking in money to the

TAR UC public account weekly. He collected RM3,320 in November.

Also present were MCA Youth deputy chief Tan Chee Hiong and Penang MCA vice-president Wong Chin Chong.

In Budget 2019, Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng cut off the development expenditure (or RM1-for-RM1 from the government to match the funds raised by TAR UC) for the institution, which in the past had received a matching grant of between RM30mil and RM60mil annually from the Finance Ministry.

And in Lim’s Budget 2020 tabled in October, not only was the matching grant for TAR UC not reinstated, but the development fund for the university college was also slashed from RM5.5mil to a mere RM1mil.

TAR UC is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in Malaysia and the alma mater of more than 200,000 graduates.

It is the only institution in the world approved by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) to internally assess all the nine modules of ACCA Fundamentals taken by TAR UC degree students.