Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TAR UC) does not deserve public funding because it was controlled by MCA and not the community, said Selangor DAP deputy chairperson Ean Yong Hian Wah.

In a statement today, Ean Yong pointed out that TAR UC's board of directors are entirely made up of current or former MCA leaders, unlike community-run institutions.

TAR UC's board is chaired by MCA president Wee Ka Siong. The other board members are Liow Tiong Lai, Lau Yin Pin, Kong Cho Ha, Fong Chan Onn, Hou Kok Chung, Yew Teong Look and Kuan Peng Ching.

Describing TAR UC as a "political by-product", Ean Yong said MCA had set up the institution to appease the Chinese community after education movement Dong Jiao Zong's application to set up a Merdeka University in the 1970s was rejected.

"It is unfair to use taxpayer money to help a political party's university that is not answerable to the public. It should be treated equal as other private education institutions in the country.

"I would support government funding for TAR UC if MCA agrees to hand over the institution to the community, so that it can be run with a structure similar to New Era College University, Southern University College and Han Chiang University College," he said.

Ean Yong was responding to former MCA leader Ling Liong Sik's criticisms against Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng for slashing government funding for TAR UC.

Ling had claimed that Lim was committing politicial suicide for slashing the government's funding from RM24.5 million to just RM5.5 million.