KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 2 — The Higher Education Ministry clarified today that RM30 million has been set aside for the Tunku Abdul Rahman University College (TarUC) to use next year.

It explained that the funding was excluded as operational funds in its Budget 2018.

"For the year 2018, the allocation was not included in the ministry’s operational expenditure budget, but under the ministry’s management sector.

"However, a RM30 million allocation under the higher education management sector has been readied and will be channelled to TarUC for operation costs in 2018,” the ministry said in a statement yesterday on its website.

The clarification follows an allegation by several DAP MPs who questioned the lack of funding for TarUC during the ministry’s budget wrap in the Dewan Rakyat last month.

In a separate statement today, the MCA told the DAP to stop politicising the issue.

"Given the clarification issued by the Ministry of Higher Education regarding an RM30 million funding by the government for TAR UC, DAP should cease making groundless allegations against the government and MCA. Education should never be politicised,” the Barisan Nasional component party said.