Cabinet will decide this week
MELAKA: The long-awaited move to abolish the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (Auku) will be brought to the Cabinet this Wednesday, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said the decision was made following concerns among university students that remained unresolved despite several amendments to the Act.
“University students feel that they should be free. While we have given them greater freedom through amendments to the Act, there are still some who feel dissatisfied, and they have submitted a memorandum.
“As such, I would like to announce that we will abolish the Act and the matter will be brought to the Cabinet on Wednesday,” he said at the PKR national congress yesterday.
Auku, enacted in 1971, governs the administration and management of public universities and contains provisions relating to student activities and participation in political activities.
The Act has been amended several times over the years, including to give students greater freedom to engage in political activities.
The abolition of the Act is part of PKR’s longstanding reform commitments and the announcement comes after renewed calls from student groups for Auku to be abolished.
Earlier this year, a group of student protesters marched to Parliament to submit a memorandum outlining their demands, including the abolition of Auku.
The Higher Education Ministry had said it was prepared to listen to the grievances raised by the protesters.
Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir said it was open to reviewing Auku, which he described as a “dynamic” Act.
