TAR UMT Student Turns Experience Into Success at the EY Young Tax Professional of the Year 2026

Karanjot Singh made an impressive mark by securing the First Runner-Up title.

Published 13 Aug 2026

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Karanjot Singh from Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT) has made an impressive mark on the national stage by securing the First Runner-Up title at the Ernst & Young Tax Professional of the Year (EY YTPY) 2026 Malaysia competition.

The Bachelor of Commerce student’s achievement reflects not only his technical capabilities, but also his persistence and growth over time. This was actually Karanjot’s second attempt at the competition, having previously reached the semi-finals in 2025. Reflecting on his journey, he shared, “I was definitely feeling a bit lost last year, but the experience helped me find my footing this year.”

The EY YTPY competition requires its finalists to analyse case studies and deliver presentations to a panel of judges, followed by a Q&A session. Participants are evaluated on both their technical tax knowledge and their commercial awareness, making it a rigorous test of real-world skills.

Balancing the demands of final-year studies with competition preparation was no easy feat, but Karanjot rose to the challenge with determination and support from those around him. He credited his lecturer, Ms Suzzane Poh Shuh Chen, for encouraging him to participate and guiding him throughout the process.

Despite putting in the effort, Karanjot confessed that he entered the final stage without expectations of winning. The finals, held from 7 to 8 July 2026, became a turning point in how he approached the competition. “I was very self-conscious of all my mistakes, so I was extremely surprised and overjoyed when my name was called. I realised the best parts of my presentation were when I let go of the expectation of winning and focused on just trying my best,” he said.

For Karanjot, the competition was about more than just the final result. He remarked, “The thing I valued the most from the competition was not the accomplishment or the prize, but rather the experience from the competition and meeting new and friendly people.”

His achievement is also part of a broader success story for TAR UMT, with four other students — Wong Jing Hui, Ng Fu Hui, Zhao Miaoqi and Lim Li Yuin — placing among the top ten finalists at the same competition. Their strong showing highlights the university’s commitment to nurturing capable and industry-ready graduates.

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