TARUC, UTAR students emerge Deloitte Tax Challenge 2015 champions

12 November 2015 – After a nationwide search and months of intense competition, the winners of the Deloitte Tax Challenge 2015 (DTC 2015) were announced last night, to great fanfare at the DTC 2015 Gala Dinner. The grand finale had taken place on the same day with 11 finalists from the individual category and 6 teams from the team category locked in fierce competition to outdo their fellow finalists.

Team TaxWiz from TAR University College (TARUC) emerged as the champion in the team category, winning a cash prize of RM8,000 while individual category winner, Mah Wen Jian, from University of Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) won the cash prize amounting RM3,000. Overall, a total of RM38,000 in prize money and awards were presented to the winners in both categories, which included merit awards, and Special Awards from sponsors ACCA Malaysia and Wolter Kluwer’s CCH.

The champions were also offered internship and permanent career opportunities with Deloitte, one of the largest professional services firm in the world. The Deloitte Tax Challenge (DTC), an annual tax-based competition hosted by Deloitte Malaysia, attracted a record number of 2,667 participants from 47 universities across Malaysia.

“DTC reaffirms our commitment to cultivate and enrich new generations of professionals. Upon reaching the final stage of the competition, finalists are enrolled into workshops where they are trained on presentation and research skills which will help increase their employability in the long run,” said Yee Wing Peng, Deloitte Malaysia’s country tax leader.

Deloitte Tax Challenge, held for the 8th time, is an annual tax-based competition designed to encourage students from higher learning institutions to hone their tax knowledge as well as improve writing, speaking and presentation skills. The competition has produced some of the nation’s best tax talents and has benefitted over 13,600 students to date.

With close to nine percent of Malaysian youths unable to secure jobs, competitions like this is crucial in helping graduates kick-start in their careers. DTC was designed to give students a taste of real-life work environments as well as develop rudimentary career skills.

DTC features rigorous competition stages where participants were tested on their ability to develop tax solutions through simulated case studies. The final stage saw 35 finalists pitted against each other as they were awarded points based on their presentation skills and debate arguments.

Thiban Raj Arumugam is thrilled that his team, TaxWiz, managed to clinch the championship in the team category, “Winning this gives us a great competitive advantage in pursuing our careers. As it is, we now hold in our hands an offer letter from Deloitte!”

Mah Wen Jian, the champion in the individual category, stated that his keen interest in the taxation industry helped him get ahead of his peers in the competition. He was also heartened by the support shown to him by Deloitte through the competition.

While the champions were expecting career opportunities and generous prizes, they were even more delighted to find out about the next level of this competition – SEA DTC. The inaugural SEA DTC will host regional participants, including the winners of this competition. The event is scheduled to take place in the first quarter of 2016.

“Champions who emerged from the upcoming SEA DTC will be given internship opportunities in other participating countries. This will give them the necessary international exposure to put their career on the fast track,” stated Yee.

Special awards were also presented by ACCA Malaysia for the Best Presentations to Kok Ser Lin (Sunway University), Thiban Raj Arumugam (TARUC), Cheang Weizheng (TARUC), Rupini Kangasothy (TARUC) and Chee Jun Ning (TARUC), and the Best Writer award by Wolters Kluwer CCH was presented to Chan Fung Han (USM). These awards are specially created to recognise exceptional presentation and research skills.

“We feel very strongly about education and for building the foundation for the tax profession. Partnering with Deloitte for DTC was an honour as the competition resonates with what Wolters Kluwer CCH is passionate about,” said Sunita Nathan, publishing director of Wolters Kluwer CCH Malaysia.

Angeline Teh from BFM89.9 who took part as a trainer and a judge at the event shared how impressed she was with the calibre of the participants. She was also pleased to find out that the competition does not focus on just technical tax knowledge but also on presentation and English language skills as it motivates students to be well-rounded individuals.

ACCA Malaysia, Wolters Kluwer CCH and BFM89.9 are proud sponsors of the 8th edition of the Deloitte Tax Challenge.