Include UTAR In Postgraduate Package, Ka Chuan Urges Govt

KUALA LUMPUR, March 14 (Bernama) -- Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Seri Ong Ka Chuan said he would ask the government to include Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) in the postgraduate financing package announced by Deputy Prime Minister (DPM) Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on Tuesday.

"I will talk to the DPM about this. We should have UTAR Masters Degree and Doctorate level students included in this programme, especially in the current economic situation.

"If the government offers grants and financial aid, UTAR students should receive it too," he told reporters after attending UTAR's Eighth Convocation here, Saturday.

UTAR was a recognised private university with a good track record of producing quality and highly sought after graduates, he said.

Najib, when tabling the RM60 billion stimulus package in the Dewan Rakyat on March 10, said the government would undertake to finance tuition fees and research grants up to RM20,000 for every student pursuing doctorates locally while for students in the Masters programme, the government would provide up to RM10,000 per student.

A total of 500 places would be provided for studies at PhD level and 10,000 at Masters level in public institutions of higher learning as well as at Universiti Tenaga Nasional, Universiti Multimedia and Universiti Teknologi Petronas, he had said.

-- BERNAMA