JOHOR BAHRU: The Federation of Chinese Associations Malaysia (Huazong) has hoped that the new government under the leadership of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim could resume the RM6 mil annual allocation for the three Chinese community run university colleges, which was given by the Pakatan Harapan (PH), when it first formed the federal government, back in 2018.
The three university colleges are, the Southern University College, the New Era University College and the Han Chiang University College of Communication.
Its President Tan Sri T.C Goh said, when PH formed the federal government after the 14th general election, in 2018, it allocated an annual grant totaling RM6 mil for the three university colleges, for two consecutive years, with each of them receiving RM2 mil. The said allocation was to help alleviate the financial burden of the Chinese community for operating the three university colleges.
“I earnestly hope, and urge our current unity government to resume the said annual allocations for the said three Chinese community-run university colleges, and if necessary, to increase the annual allocations to help the three Chinese community-run university colleges to better achieve their potentials,” he urged.
Goh who is also President of The Federation of Chinese Associations Sabah (FCAS) urged this while officiating at the 47th anniversary celebration of the Southern College University here, on Saturday. Also in attendance were Huazong deputy president, Dato’ Lim Kah Chuan, former Transport Minister, Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy, Dato Seri Steve Chong and Dato’ Vincent Tan Meng Seng, Chairman of Southern University College, among the dignitaries.
Goh was also hopeful that Malaysia will have a good future under the ‘unity government’ led by Anwar.
He also hoped the new government could be more open and caring towards the various types of schools in the existing national education system, including the aforementioned three Chinese community-run university colleges.
Stressing that the Chinese community has always taken education issues seriously, he was convinced that with the strong support of the Chinese community and those who support Chinese education, Chinese education in Malaysia would continue to grow stronger.
He said, as a non-profit Chinese community-run university college, Southern University College has come a long way since its inception, and it also witnessed the Chinese community’s struggle and determination to establish higher education institutions in the country.
The establishment of the Southern University College also proved the popular saying that, “where there are Chinese people, there will be a Chinese school.”, he added.
He noted that the Southern University College is one of the three Chinese community-run university colleges, and as denoted by its name, it is located in the southern part of Peninsular Malaysia. In the centre of Peninsular Malaysia, there is the New Era University College, and in the north, there is the Han Chiang University College of Communication, with each one of them has its own strength and quality, as a higher learning institution.
Goh further noted that, in the past, due to the heavy burden of operating a higher learning institution, some quarters had proposed the merging of the said three university colleges. Such a proposal even drew a hot discussion among the Chinese community at that time. But, such a proposal never materialized as many were of the opinion that it was too challenging to implement.
He said, when one looks back now, it was definitely a wise decision then not to proceed with the said proposal of merging the three university colleges as one institution. This was especially so, when one looked at the commendable achievements of the three university colleges, individually.
He also proudly described the three university colleges as the “three fortresses” of the Chinese community.
He opined that the existence of the “three Chinese fortresses” should not be viewed as competing against each other, but to complement each other to better serve the Chinese community, and the nation, as a whole.
He also recognized that the non-profit Chinese community-run higher learning institutions, the Southern University College included, had over the years produced talents of various sectors for the country, besides preserving the Chinese education and culture, which is a unique feature for a multiracial Malaysia.
