Confusion reigned in the new MCA-founded Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Utar) on its third day of operation as diploma holders from another private institute managed by the party, Tunku Abdul Rahman College (Tarc), were still unable to enrol in the university.

This was despite earlier assurances from the Tarc administration that diploma holders of the college would "very likely" be admitted into the university.

Ironically, some 600 school leavers and students from other private colleges had already been enrolled at Utar since Monday and are now studying temporarily at two places the Tarc Setapak campus and the old office of The Star daily in Petaling Jaya.

When contacted, Utar director of external relations Low Bee Heng said the Tarc diploma holders have to wait for another year before they can continue with their studies at Utar.

This is because the diploma holders are exempted from the first-year studies at Utar and should have gone straight into the second year.

But Utar is not offering second-year courses until next year, Low added.

She said this situation had been explained to the students by their respective departments of studies and therefore there was no need to give the students any further notice for clarification.

A check later revealed that this information was not available on the websites of both Utar and Tarc.

Meanwhile, as a solution to their current predicament, Low suggested that "they may join the rest for the first year if they want to".

When asked about the eventual location of the Utar campus, she said, "You have to ask (MCA president) Dr Ling Liong Sik about this."

'Different stories'

The setting up of Utar was announced by Ling last year when MCA was facing strong public protest against the party's controversial takeover of two Chinese newspapers.

In recent months, the party chief had repeatedly given his word that priority would be given to Tarc graduates in admission to Utar.

However, many disappointed students claimed that the Utar administration obviously did not practise what was promised by Ling.

Chin Jing Yi, a mass communication diploma holder who wished to obtain her degree from Utar, said the status of her application that was submitted in early April remains unclear.

"Every time when we approach the administration regarding our applications, we do not get a definite answer. Nobody can confirm whether the applications have been rejected or not," she lamented.

She added that the students had been told "different stories" regarding their applications.

"Sometimes, they (the administration) say that we will enter Utar as second-year students, but later they will tell us that we should apply for first-year courses."

Utar is offering eight degree programmes under three faculties, namely on information technology, arts and social sciences, as well as accountancy and management.

These programmes are open to those with Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), Tarc certificates or other equivalent qualifications.

The Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) holders, however, would have to finish one year of foundation studies before they proceed to degree programmes.