KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 26 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has called on university students and stakeholders to place their trust in the government as it plans comprehensive reforms to the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (AUKU).
He said all parties should give the government room to carry out comprehensive amendments to the law, or repeal it entirely, to provide greater freedom for students.
Anwar said he had long been consistent in opposing AUKU and stressed that the government was now committed to bringing about comprehensive changes for the benefit of students and higher education institutions.
“Give us room. I have fought this act (AUKU) for a long time. Now we want to amend it comprehensively, so please give us a little room,” he said when responding to a participant at the 13th Malaysia MADANI Intellectual Forum Series on the Nation’s Future Education and AUKU at Dewan Tunku Canselor, Universiti Malaya, here last night.
The participant had asked what guarantees the government could provide that any new legislation replacing AUKU would not simply amount to the same law in a different form.
Also present were Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek and Academy of Sciences Malaysia president Tengku Datuk Mohd Azzman Shariffadeen.
Elaborating, Anwar said efforts to amend or repeal the act required a comprehensive process and thorough review, including discussions at the Higher Education Ministry and Cabinet levels.
The prime minister also assured students that the government was committed to providing greater political space and broader avenues for freedom of speech, underpinned by good governance and an orderly legal framework.
Meanwhile, Anwar asked the National Student Consultative Council (MPPK) to give him some time to hold a special meeting to discuss concerns raised by student representatives over the act and student welfare.
“Give me a little time. I am focusing on the Budget ... then National Day, then Malaysia Day ... it will be very challenging, but God-willing, I will,” he said.
Earlier, MPPK representatives presented two requests to the prime minister.
The first was for the council, comprising 35 student leaders from public universities, polytechnics and community colleges, to be formally involved in the committee responsible for drafting or amending the legislation.
The second was for a special meeting with the prime minister to allow student representatives to raise key issues affecting students directly.
