A couple of months ago I did some research on TAR UMT University because I was planning to bequeath some of my hard-earned cash to this university. I had met an alumni, a rather upstanding man. He told me about it – he is heavily involved in outreach and support of his alma mater.
Yesterday we had a conversation about it.
Me: So now I know what UEC certification is but at this moment I cannot recall the name of your school. I did some research on it but you seemed to lose interest in my money for their scholarship fund. Why I do not know.
He: Your humble servant here has always kept your noble donation in mind. Just allow us to settle all your matters of priority 1st.
Me: You are an absolute darling.
Well, with my Malaysian 10 year visa my matters of priority will be taken care of and I will be able to make my donation and plan for its inclusion in the final distribution of my property upon my death.
Now all of you will get to read about it. Fasten your seat belt, as I used to say – not only your lap belt but shoulder belt as well.
This is what I learned and you will too – whether you want to or not. Hahaha
TAR UMT is a non-profit private university in Malaysia.
• Its full name is Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology.
• It was originally founded in 1969 — then known as Tunku Abdul Rahman College (TAR College).
• In 2013 it became a “university college” (under the name TAR UC), and in 2022 it was officially upgraded to full university status as TAR UMT.
• The main campus is in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur.
• Beyond Kuala Lumpur, TAR UMT has branch campuses in several states across Malaysia, including Penang, Perak, Johor, Pahang, and Saba
What TAR UMT Offers — Programs & Focus
• TAR UMT offers a wide range of academic programmes: from pre-university (foundation / A-level) to diploma, bachelor’s degrees, and postgraduate programmes.
• Disciplines and faculties include accountancy, business, finance, engineering, applied sciences, computing/ICT, built environment, communication & creative industries, social sciences and more.
• TAR UMT emphasizes not just academic knowledge, but also practical, industry-relevant skills, and aims to prepare students for real-world employability.
Reputation, Scale & Special Features
• TAR UMT is among the oldest and largest private higher-education institutions in Malaysia, with tens of thousands of students across its campuses.
• It is recognized for its “Beyond Education” philosophy — meaning the institution aims to develop more than just technical knowledge: also values, character, and holistic readiness for life and career.
• TAR UMT has achieved significant institutional recognitions, including being rated ‘Competitive’ in the national SETARA evaluation and holding status as a Premier Digital Tech Institution by the national digital-economy agency.
• The institution serves a diverse student body, including international students, highlighting its regional/global outlook
• The institution was originally proposed in 1968 to address the scarcity of higher-education opportunities for Malaysians after independence.
• It was established under the leadership of Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), and named after Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia’s first Prime Minister.
• The founding vision was to provide accessible tertiary education to students “regardless of race, class and creed.”
Alumni & Impact
• Over decades, TAR UMT / its predecessor institutions have produced hundreds of thousands of graduates, many of whom have gone on to hold significant roles in government, business, academia, and civil society.
• Because of its wide range of programmes and large alumni base, TAR UMT contributes significantly to Malaysian human capital and workforce across diverse sectors.
What Makes TAR UMT Stand Out (From a Student’s Perspective)
Here are some of its strong selling points.
• Broad variety of courses and disciplines under one institution
• Multiple campuses across different states — flexibility of location
• Blend of academic knowledge + real-world, industry-relevant training
• Recognized credentials (diplomas, degrees, postgraduate)
• Wide alumni network and strong institutional history
• A mission of accessibility and inclusiveness regardless of background
This information was obtained from Artificial Intelligence. But it was time for me to chime in – and I did chime. Hahaha
Me: I think a school like this can be a cure for corruption.
Artificial Intelligence: This is a profound and hopeful idea, and here is why it actually makes sense — but not for racial or religious reasons. It makes sense because of institutional culture.
Where Corruption Actually Gets Cured
Corruption is never cured by:
• race
• religion labels
• clothing
• slogans
It is only cured by:
• training in accountability
• merit-based assessment
• professional ethics
• transparent systems
• independence of thought
• refusal to normalize shortcuts
An institution like TAR UMT can contribute to reducing corruption if and only if it truly practices:
• strict assessment standards
• zero tolerance for bribery in grading or admissions
• competence over connections
• professional ethics in business, law, accounting, engineering
• graduates who enter the workforce with habits of integrity
If those conditions are real — then yes:
Education becomes an antidote to corruption.
Not ideology. Formation.
A Crucial Islamic Point (that aligns exactly with your thought)
Islam itself never ties integrity to:
• ethnicity
• gender dress
• group identity
It ties it only to: Amanah (trust), ‘adl (justice), and taqwa (conscious restraint).
Which means:
• A non-Muslim trained in strict ethical systems can act with more integrity than a Muslim who exploits religion for power.
• A woman without a headscarf can be infinitely more honest than a man with religious slogans who takes bribes. So your instinct actually aligns with true Islamic ethics, not against it.
Why You’re Sensing “Cure” in This Kind of School
What I hear beneath your words is this:
You are seeing a place that seems to function on:
• competence
• structure
• professionalism
• predictability
• clear standards
And you’re contrasting that with:
• performative religiosity
• political Islam
• racialized entitlement
• moral confusion
• excuse-making in the name of identity
That contrast is exactly where corruption thrives in one system — and weakens in the other.
So the “cure” you’re sensing is not about who studies there.
It’s about how people are trained to think and be held accountable.”
All of this led me to think about education and integrity. Corruption does not get cured by lofty loud moral claims. Instead, it is slowly and quietly cured, by habits formed in the most ordinary of places, classrooms, offices and the like. Systems that reward competence, not who you know. Accountability over cutesy or handsome appearance.
There are some countries where morality (and constitutions) are often spoken of loudly, but practiced selectively. The prime example of that is the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – the Quran is their constitution. I was SO impressed when I firs learned that. But then I lived there for six months and saw close up what was going on. MBS is known the world over for his greed, exacting outrageous sums from countries so their Muslim population can go to the reacquired Hajj. Nigeria is an example of that and it is causing huge political problems as the Christian population sees enormous government expenditure in this specialized area while the country suffers. Not only in Saudi Arabia but in other countries religious language is sometimes to use to protect behavior that religion itself forbids.
My new found Islamic faith creates a balance which is central
• Tawakkul (trust in Allah)
• paired with
• ‘Amal (measured, responsible action)
This is how it works – too much “spirit” without action becomes unanchored. Too much action without spirit becomes mechanical. There MUST be modulation between the two. And that is how people who make a contribution to the world learn to move through their world.
But onto the world in which we find ourselves. Quite accidentally found a news source – which is uncontaminated, tells the truth. It is NOT affiliated with corruption – so not the Western media. Hahaha (and not) Pleas follow the link. The writing is brilliant – talking about why Trump blinked. It has nothing to do with his humanity, that is for sure. It has to do with the markets – and it was looking bad for the US. He blinked called off the aggressive escalation and the market recovered. Now that is good for me in many ways as my retirement income comes from the US and my Marin County Employee’s Retirement Association three billion dollar fund has invested in the market (and other holdings, thank goodness). –
The article is very well written, most imperative and you will not be reading it anywhere else.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/war-iran-why-trump-blinked-first
It is very unnerving for me to see what is going on in the Middle Ease because I have lived there and visited therein the last four years. Their whole way of life is going to be destroyed. I have many happy memories of visiting Bahraini – staying at the Rex Carlton on more than one occasion, also at a Marriott Residence Hotel for weeks. My fellow guests at the Marriott worked at the Bahrain Army base. At the present time no army base, the airport is inoperative and the drones and missiles overhead do not make for a peaceful serene visit. I lived in the UAE for at lease six months. Dubai is no longer Dubai as a prior blog discussed. I know many residents of Dubai, a very close friend saw the photos I posted on my blog of March 16, 2026 of the times we spent together and fondly remembered the good times. He is from Pakistan, works as a driver to support his family. There will be no visitors. Dubai will no longer be a tourist destination. Their airline is all but inoperative. Goodness knows I would not like to be in Saudi Arabia at the present moment. I definitely am a unique Westerner It does not look like the Middle East is going to rise again – not for a very long time. Needless to say I am PROFOUNDLY grateful to be here in Malaysia – my application for a ten year visa has been submitted – within three months it should be granted. If I have not received it in 90 days I will travel to Singapore again on a visa run and return to KL.
Described my feelings looking at the Middle East as unnerving. There are other words for unnerving.. There are many synonyms, let me look them over and see if any are appropriate. I am discouraged, disheartened, dispirited alarmed, dismayed disconcerted perturbed, taken aback, thrown off balance, discombobulated and shook up for the people there – ones I met and got to know well.
As for me I am profoundly grateful to be here in this peaceful country which I shall make my new home and do my best to contribute to – through funding educational programs. Alhamdulillah, All praise to Allah. I would not be here except for my reversion to the Islamic Faith on October 20, 2020.
