TAR UC Students Achieve Multiple Wins at Deloitte Tax Challenge 2016

It came as no surprise when TAR UC students once again earned top positions and awards at this year’s Deloitte Tax Challenge. A total of 2,545 participants from 44 universities nationwide took part in this 9^th instalment of the competition. In the finals held on 10 November 2016 at Deloitte’s Head Office in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) student Saw Zhi Shan won the First Runner-up position while Chuah Wei Jie, also a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) student, won the ACCA Best Presenter Award in the Individual Category. Saw Zhi Shan walked away with cash prize RM2,000, a trophy and a certificate for his win while Chuah Wei Jie received a plaque for his award.

It was also a double win for Saw Zhi Shan when his team comprising three other Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) students, Lim Jing Jie, Pong Wen-Xin Isabelle and Revathi Naidu a/p Rajaram Naidu emerged as Second Runner-up in the Team Category of the competition, walking away with cash prize RM2,000, trophies and certificates. From this team, Lim Jing Jie also received the ACCA Best Presenter Award under the Team Category. With an aim to promote tax as a career option, the competition mainly challenged the participants on their tax knowledge by providing them with real-life simulations of tax profession.

When interviewed, the winners of the Team Category attributed their success to their lecturers as well as their strong bond as a team. “Since the competition includes advanced tax knowledge, our lecturers, Mr Michael Yeo Thiam Swee and Mr Chong Geok Chuang sacrificed their time after classes to coach us. We were also trained more in our presentation skills as the finals involved presenting our answers to the case studies given,” said Revathi Naidu a/p Rajaram Naidu. Pong Wen-Xin Isabelle also commended TAR UC’s library facility which provided them with helpful knowledge resources for the competition. 

Chuah Wei Jie, on the other hand, spoke of how his role as course representative for his batch indirectly contributed to his success in winning the Best Presenter Award. “Besides having an English-speaking family background, I believe that my role as course representative for my batch also played a role in helping me achieve this award as I was required do a lot of talking in front of others. This boosted my confidence in public speaking which in turn helped me in my presentation skills,” he explained. Lim Jing Jie, who also won the Best Presenter Award, explained how the tutorial sessions helped in improving their presentation skills. “For every tutorial session, we are required to present what we have learnt and this, I believe, is a good way for us to improve on our presentation skills.

As for tips to juniors who wish to emulate their success in future, Saw Zhi Shan said, “You should always challenge yourself to try new things.” Revathi Naidu a/p Rajaram Naidu and Pong Wen-Xin Isabelle also stressed on the importance of improving one’s English proficiency and presentation skills.