Huazong urges IPTAs, IPTSs to reduce tuition fees

Kuala Lumpur: The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) reiterated its call for both public and private higher-learning institutions to downward revise its tuition fees.

Its President Tan Sri TC Goh said this is necessary so as to alleviate the financial burden of the parents during the Covid-19 induced financial stress and to ensure the students complete their higher education during this challenging time. 

He also hoped that the government would extend the 15 per cent discount for hostel, administrative and activity fees for students at public higher learning institutions for the second semester of their 2019/2020 academic session, which was announced by Higher Education Minister Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad, previously.

“We propose that the government extend the discount until end of this year, at least, besides raising it to 30 per cent to better assist the parents and students to cope with the challenging situation,” he said. 

He also welcomed the Minister’s recent announcement that the Higher Education Ministry fully bear the UPUOnline/UNIK ID processing fees for applicants of the 2021/2022 session to ease the students’ burdens.

In addition, Goh also proposed that the government further reduce tuition fees for public colleges and universities. 

“We also called on the government or the Higher Education Ministry to negotiate with private higher learning institutions in the country to also consider giving reasonable discounts on their fees, so as to help alleviate financial burden of the parents,” he added.  

Goh who is also the President of the Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) proposed this when officiating at the presentation of Carlsberg Huazong Education Fund (CEF) bursary to successful applicants, at Tan Sri Koo Yuen Kim Auditorium in Wisma Huazong on Saturday. 

Also present were Huazong Deputy President Datuk Ong Seng Khek, Deputy Secretary-General Yong Yew Wei, Central Committee member Dato’ Ng Chin Heng, Huazong Cultural Committee Secretary, Kua Sok Hwa, and Carlsberg Malaysia’s Marketing Activation Manager Ng Choon Siang.

The ceremony was streamed online via Zoom to facilitate distribution of the one-off bursary of RM3,000 to all 333 successful applicants, nationwide.  

Meanwhile, Goh also shared Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s concern over the devastating impact of Covid-19 pandemic, which has inevitably caused Malaysians to become poorer. 

It was estimated that some 10 per cent of those previously in the T20 group have become M40 and some ten per cent of the M40 group have become B40.

“If such a revelation is true, then our income classifications would be altered, with 10 per cent of Malaysians in the high-income group (T10), the middle-income group (M40) remained at 40 per cent, and the remaining 50 per cent of our population is now effectively in the low-income group (B50). 

“This would certainly pose a great adverse impact on our aspiration of becoming a high-income nation. Hence, it is important that the government and all quarters involved must take serious note of this matter and to come out with appropriate and effective measures to overcome this,” he said.

He nonetheless emphasised that regardless of the dire situation, there should be no compromise when it comes to education and that the government must continue to strive to provide the best and affordable education, high education included, to the people.

Earlier, on behalf of Huazong, Goh thanked Carlsberg Group for its continuous support to Chinese education.

He said that the free bursary of RM1 million was rolled out in mid-January this year to assist needy Chinese students in the country to pursue their higher education, in view of the fact that a vast majority of the parents, especially those from the middle and low income groups, have been financially devastated by the Covid-19 pandemic.

This special bursary with a quota for 333 students is open for application starting February 1, this year. Successful applicants will receive an one-off bursary of RM3,000 each.

“Under this scheme, we decided to provide a one-off bursary of RM3,000 to 333 students nationwide, to allow them to pay for their tuition fee, or to purchase a computer for online learning purposes, or for their living expenses.

“Our main objective is to help ease their financial burden amidst the pandemic,” he explained.

He said that since it was opened for application early last month, the bursary scheme received overwhelming response which exceeded its quota by seven times with a total of 2,561 applications received from various channels. 

Applications and inquiries continued to pour in even after the deadline.

The CEF was established in 1998 with a revolving fund of RM5 million to provide interest-free study loans to assist children of Chinese community to pursue higher education to realise their dreams. It has since benefited thousands of needy students.

Goh also hoped other corporations in the country would emulate the noble and caring attitude of Carlsberg Group in giving back to the society, especially to help the underprivileged and vulnerable groups who are really in need of help during this unprecedented challenging time of economic and financial crisis.

“Besides the corporate sector, we also call on the government to pay greater attention to the plight of students from poor families who are currently pursuing their higher education,” he said.