KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 15 (Bernama) -- Experts say the government’s decision to repeal the Universities and University Colleges Act (AUKU) 1971 marks a progressive policy change that will help higher education keep pace with current developments and globalisation.
Senior lecturer at Universiti Malaya’s Faculty of Education, Associate Prof Dr Abd Razak Zakaria, said the move did not amount to completely scrapping the legal functions governing universities, but was instead intended to establish a more comprehensive and effective legal framework.
He said student political participation and opportunities for organising were only a small part of the provisions under AUKU, while the university’s core administrative structure would remain intact.
“Repealing AUKU does not mean universities will lose their autonomy or legal basis for governance. Key areas, including the appointment of senior leaders, financial management, the powers of the Senate and Board of Directors, and academic freedom, will continue to be protected under the new, refined Act.
“The decision to repeal AUKU rather than simply amend it periodically will provide greater room for the country to nurture a competitive and future-ready generation with leadership qualities,” he told Bernama, referring to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s statement today that the government plans to repeal the Act and will discuss the matter at next Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting.
Sharing the view, senior lecturer at Universiti Teknologi MARA’s Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Ahmad Faisal Mohamed Fiah, said previous amendments to AUKU had played a key role in empowering students, fostering innovative thinking, and creating greater space for democracy in higher education.
A former member of the AUKU Amendment Main Committee (2021-2023), he said the government’s decision to abolish the Act entirely rather than amend it was pragmatic, giving students greater space to develop maturity and independence.
“The previous amendments allowed students to engage with political movements or parties, which showed that AUKU had already been liberalised and gave students greater freedom. The truth is, AUKU never imposed a blanket restriction,” he said.
AUKU has undergone seven amendments since its introduction in 1971. An amendment in 2012 allowed students to participate in activities organised by political parties outside campus. Previous amendments were made in 1971, 1975, 1983, 1996 and 2009.
Under the latest amendments in 2024, disciplinary action against students at public universities is no longer decided by the vice-chancellor, but by the Student Disciplinary Committee following amendments to Section 16B of AUKU.
Section 15A was also improved to allow student representative councils and student bodies to raise funds and accept contributions in any manner, subject to the prevailing regulations and written laws.
Meanwhile, Universiti Malaya Students’ Union president for the 2025/2026 session, Aiman Izzat Shamsuddin, called on the government to provide a clear and transparent implementation timeline to prevent legal gaps during the transition to the new legislation.
“We welcome the repeal, but hope the government will set a clear target date and ensure the new Act does not contain ‘cut-and-paste’ restrictions that could once again limit students’ freedom of expression and right to assembly,” he said.
Meanwhile, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) welcomed the government’s initiative to establish a more comprehensive, progressive and future-ready legal framework for higher education under the Malaysia Higher Education Blueprint (RPTM) 2026-2035.
UiTM Vice-Chancellor Prof Datuk Dr Shahrin Sahib @ Sahibuddin said the university was ready to work closely with the Higher Education Ministry (MOHE) and all relevant parties to ensure any reforms to the higher education legal framework, including those affecting the Universiti Teknologi MARA Act 1976 (Act 173), were properly implemented.
According to him, UiTM has its own legal framework and is not governed by the AUKU, unlike most other public universities. Instead, it was established and is governed under Act 173.
“However, several principles and provisions under Act 173 are similar in terms of their governance framework to those governing other public universities. As such, any comprehensive reform of the higher education legal framework should also consider UiTM’s specific requirements and circumstances.
“UiTM therefore supports the MOHE’s aim of ensuring that the country’s higher education legal framework remains relevant, progressive and responsive to current and future needs, and is ready to contribute its views and expertise to the consultation process,” he said in a statement today.
Any improvements to UiTM’s legal framework must be carried out carefully and comprehensively, taking into account the university’s identity, history, mandate and specific responsibilities, while ensuring that governance, institutional autonomy, academic excellence and student development continue to be strengthened, he added.
-- BERNAMA