Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announces the complete abolition of AUKU, rejecting replacement laws that restrict student liberties in Malaysia.
PETALING JAYA: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (pic) today said the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (AUKU) would be abolished completely, with no replacement legislation introduced to impose similar restrictions on students.
The PKR president, in his winding-up speech at the 2026 PKR National Congress today, said he had initially considered proposing amendments to AUKU but had since decided that the Act should be fully repealed.
“I want to make it clear now: AUKU must be abolished. Every year, there are some amendments to the Act,” he said.
Anwar said he did not want AUKU to be amended only for similar restrictions to be reintroduced through new provisions.
“I propose that it be abolished completely. I do not want amendments to AUKU, where later there is a possibility that restrictions could be introduced through new amendments,” he said.
He stressed that students should be treated like other members of society and be subject to existing laws, rather than a specific law designed to restrict their freedom.
“Students are ordinary people. We use the same laws that apply to everyone,” he said.
“If they assault someone, cause injury or cheat in an examination, there are already existing laws and regulations to deal with such offences.”
Anwar clarified that abolishing AUKU did not mean removing all rules governing students, but said there was no need for a special law that could curb their freedom.
“I am not saying that we should loosen everything. But as for a special law like AUKU, I do not agree with any amendments or replacement Act that restricts or curbs students,” he said.
Anwar said he would reaffirm his position at the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday.
“I will reiterate at the Cabinet meeting this Wednesday that I do not agree with any amendment or replacement Act that restricts or curbs students,” he said.
