A new legal framework replacing AUKU will focus strictly on university governance and management, excluding student matters, according to Fahmi Fadzil.
PUTRAJAYA: A new law set to replace certain provisions of the Universities and University Colleges Act (AUKU) 1971 will focus on the administration and management of universities and university colleges, MADANI Government spokesman Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil announced.
Fahmi, who is also Communications Minister, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim had briefed the Cabinet on the matter at its meeting today following his announcement on Sunday that the government proposed to fully repeal AUKU.
“The Prime Minister stressed that, if necessary, a new legal framework could be introduced to regulate aspects of the administration and management of universities and university colleges.
“However, matters involving students should not be included in the legislation, as existing laws, including those enforced by the police, already apply,” he told the weekly post-Cabinet press conference today.
Fahmi said that, during the meeting, Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir explained that certain matters relating to the administration of universities and university colleges as higher education institutions still needed to be regulated.
“So, these will be given priority in any new legal framework replacing certain provisions currently contained in AUKU,” he said.
Anwar had previously said that the government would fully repeal AUKU without introducing new legislation that would restrict or suppress student activism.
AUKU has undergone seven rounds of amendments since its introduction in 1971, including changes in 2012 allowing students to participate in political party activities off campus.
The latest amendments in 2024 removed disciplinary action against public university students from the authority of vice-chancellors. Such cases are instead decided by student disciplinary committees following amendments to Section 16B of AUKU.
