Malaysian universities ready to support new higher education law after AUKU repeal

Public universities across Malaysia are prepared to offer their insights and legal expertise to the Ministry of Higher Education as it drafts new legislation. This initiative follows the recent announcement of the repeal of the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (AUKU), a move aimed at modernizing the country's higher education sector.

Universiti Malaya (UM) has acknowledged the Ministry's plan to develop a more comprehensive legal framework for higher education. UM's Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Datuk Seri Dr. Noor Azuan Abu Osman, stated that the university welcomes this direction, which aligns with the Malaysia Higher Education Blueprint (RPTM) 2026–2035's agenda for a single Higher Education Act. He emphasized that such reforms are vital for maintaining the relevance of the legal framework amidst evolving educational landscapes and for bolstering institutional autonomy, academic freedom, student representation, governance, and accountability.

UM has affirmed its commitment to cooperating with the Ministry and all stakeholders throughout the consultation process for the new legislation. Prof. Datuk Seri Dr. Noor Azuan Abu Osman stressed the importance of a holistic approach to reform, considering the entire higher education ecosystem and the universities' role in student development, community engagement, and national progress. The ultimate goal, he added, is to cultivate knowledgeable, mature, responsible, and contributing graduates who are respected nationally and globally.

Similarly, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) has also pledged its support, with Vice-Chancellor Prof. Datuk Dr. Sufian Jusoh confirming the university's readiness to contribute academic and legal expertise to the consultation process for the new "One Higher Education Act." UKM aims to be a catalyst in discussions involving various stakeholders, including higher education institution leaders, academics, industry partners, and students, ensuring the resulting legal framework meets current needs and accommodates the diversity of institutions within Malaysia's higher education system.