UUCA repeal can give Malaysian universities room to compete globally, says local varsitities
KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 17 — The country’s new higher education legal framework must provide a conducive environment for Malaysian universities to grow, remain competitive and achieve excellence on par with leading institutions worldwide.
International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) Rector Professor Emeritus Datuk Seri Dr Osman Bakar said the framework should be progressive, fair and forward-looking, while safeguarding the sustainability and integrity of universities.
He said the move to replace the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (AUKU) presented an important opportunity to establish such a framework and empower universities to respond to the changing demands of an increasingly dynamic higher education landscape.
“IIUM views this move as an important development in renewing the country’s higher education landscape, particularly by creating greater space for student participation and voices, strengthening academic freedom, and enabling universities to continue serving as platforms for knowledge, thought and research,” he said in a statement today.
Osman also welcomed the Ministry of Higher Education’s commitment to conducting an inclusive engagement process with stakeholders across the higher education ecosystem, including university leaders, academics and students.
He said broad-based engagement was crucial to ensuring the new legal framework reflected the aspirations, realities and current needs of Malaysia’s higher education community.
Meanwhile, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan (UMK) Vice-Chancellor Professor Datuk Dr Arham Abdullah said the new legislation presented an opportunity to strengthen the governance and autonomy of higher education institutions in a more structured manner, including in asset and facilities management, income generation and strategic partnerships.
He said autonomy aligned with good governance and accountability principles could help universities optimise existing assets and facilities to generate income, while strengthening institutional development and student welfare.
Arham said appropriate autonomy could also enhance universities’ ability to establish strategic partnerships with the private sector and industry players, subject to the required approvals and financial and governance procedures.
“Such an approach is important to ensure universities can explore new opportunities without compromising accountability, transparency and the public interest,” he said.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim assured that the government would repeal AUKU completely without introducing any new legislation that would restrict or suppress student movements.
AUKU has undergone seven rounds of amendments since it was introduced in 1971, including a 2012 amendment allowing students to participate in political party activities outside campus.
The latest amendment, in 2024, removed disciplinary action against students at public universities from the Vice-Chancellor’s jurisdiction. Such matters are now decided by the Student Disciplinary Committee following amendments to Section 16B of AUKU.
