Higher education experts propose a standalone Student Rights Act to protect over 1.3 million students as Malaysia moves to abolish AUKU.
KUALA LUMPUR: Higher education experts have proposed a separate law to safeguard the rights, freedoms and responsibilities of some 1.3 million students as the government prepares to abolish the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (AUKU).
National Council of Professors president Prof Emeritus Datuk Dr Raduan Che Rose said AUKU could be replaced by two separate laws, with one governing the administration and autonomy of public universities and another specifically safeguarding students’ rights.
He said the proposed Student Rights, Freedoms and Responsibilities Act should cover not only public universities but also private higher education institutions, polytechnics and community colleges.
“AUKU does not concern students in its entirety. Only about 15% of its contents relate to students, while the remaining 85% concerns the establishment, governance and management of public universities.
“We must remember this when considering any abolition or amendment,” he said during a session titled AUKU and the Future Direction of National Higher Education at the Malay Education Convention 2026 at the World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur today.
Raduan said the proposed student legislation would provide a common framework for students across the higher education system, while the proposed Public University Governance and Autonomy Act would retain the legal foundation needed to administer public universities.
Former National Student Consultative Council president Muhammad A’inur Ahlam Abu Bakar proposed nine measures to strengthen students’ position under the new framework.
These include granting students voting rights in university Senates, representation on boards and committees involved in appointing senior university officials, control over campus elections and the authority to manage their own assets and generate income.
He also proposed formally establishing the National Student Consultative Council under the new law and making student parliaments compulsory at every university.
“Universities are not merely places that produce graduates. They should also produce thinkers and spokespeople for the public,” he said.
A’inur said student-related provisions should remain in the replacement legislation to strengthen student organisations, expand their role in decision-making and ensure consistent rights across universities.
Universiti Sains Malaysia legal adviser Datuk Dr Khairul Anuar Che Azmi, meanwhile, proposed immediately repealing the seven remaining AUKU provisions concerning students while the government drafts comprehensive replacement legislation.
He said the remaining provisions could temporarily be renamed the Universities Act, with necessary student-related matters addressed through ministerial regulations.
“AUKU contains 44 sections. If only seven are regarded as objectionable, why must the entire Act be replaced?
“However, if the government intends to consolidate the other Acts, it should be given a reasonable period to formulate legislation that is genuinely comprehensive,” he said.
The government announced last month that AUKU would be abolished and replaced with more comprehensive legislation tentatively known as the One Higher Education Act.
Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir previously said an independent committee, stakeholder consultations and a legal drafting group would be established, alongside an interim mechanism to prevent disruption to university operations.
