KUALA LUMPUR: All disciplinary action previously taken against students for speaking out or expressing criticism has been dropped, says Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir.
"As an immediate step, all disciplinary actions taken all this while have been dropped, and if there are serious matters, they are subject to the country's laws," he said during Minister's Question Time in the Dewan Rakyat on Thursday (Oct 8).
He said the government aims to remove barriers that restrict university students' freedom of expression, including limitations imposed by existing regulations.
Datuk Ahmad Marzuk Shaary (PN-Pengkalan Chepa) asked in a supplementary question if students who criticise the government would be treated the same as those who support it.
Zambry said his ministry is also examining the constraints placed on students, including the disciplinary regulations set by each university.
"We see there are contradictions," he said, describing it as matters of harmonisation at the university level.
On engagement, Zambry said all student groups are being involved without distinction, whether they support the government or not, including students representing political parties.
The relevant Parliamentary Select Committee chaired by Indera Mahkota MP Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah is also being consulted, he said.
"We want to create a new Act that is truly comprehensive and listens to good views," he said.
Earlier, replying to the original question from Sivakumar Varatharaju Naidu (PH-Batu Gajah), Zambry said the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (Auku) must be repealed in a planned and phased manner, as it is also the legal basis for the establishment and governance of public universities.
"This is to ensure there is no legal vacuum that could affect the continuity of governance and operations of public universities," he said.
He said a proposed single law for higher education, the One Higher Education Act (OHEA), has been included in the Malaysian Higher Education Plan (RPTM) 2026-2035.
The ministry has also begun reviewing Sections 15 and 16 of Auku, which relate to students, to widen their freedom of expression and association, he added.
