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Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has pledged the full repeal of the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 without introducing new laws restricting student activities, addressing longstanding concerns about academic freedom.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has announced plans to abolish the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (AUKU), a legislation that has long restricted student activism and academic expression in Malaysia's higher education system.
Malaysian youth organisations have welcomed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's announcement to abolish AUKU, describing it as a watershed moment for restoring student rights and institutional independence across the country's universities.
Malaysian academics and student leaders have broadly endorsed the government's plan to repeal the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971, viewing it as a necessary modernisation that will strengthen rather than undermine institutional governance.
Malaysia's AUKU repeal announcement marks a symbolic victory for student freedoms, but true reform requires addressing systemic inequities in university admissions, funding, and governance that disadvantage qualified Malaysian students.
Malaysian experts have urged the government to establish a high-level committee to develop a new legal framework as it moves to abolish AUKU, ensuring university governance remains secure while expanding student and academic freedoms.
Malaysia's Higher Education Ministry plans to replace the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (AUKU) with a more comprehensive legislative framework as part of the Malaysia Higher Education Plan 2026-2035, following Prime Minister Anwar's announcement to repeal the 53-year-old law.