KUALA LUMPUR: Efforts are under way to draft the new One Higher Education Act, with engagements already held to gather views and suggestions of stakeholders, says Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir (pic).
He said the legislation, which will replace the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (Auku), should leave no one behind in the drafting process.
“We do not want anyone to be left behind as we draft the legislation to replace Auku.”
Zambry said engagements would also be held with student groups.
“I have also met with student representatives at the national level and requested them to bring their groups for engagement as well.
“We want to consolidate all views so that we can draft a comprehensive legislation. We are drafting something new, not for the current times but the future,” he told reporters on the sidelines of Umno general assembly.
On Aug 16, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that Auku will be abolished.
Student groups have since said students should not only be free to speak on campus but should also have a say in university decision-making and for stronger safeguards for student rights and autonomy to be in place.
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.
On a separate matter, Zambry said the ministry was monitoring the situation involving Malaysian students in Indonesia following the prolonged haze.
He added that the ministry had yet to receive reports on the seriousness of the situation.
“So far, we have not received reports as it depends on the universities concerned,” he said.
“We will continue to monitor it and our representative at the Malaysian Education Office in Indonesia will inform us about the haze situation.”
