AUKU Repeal Opportunity to Rebuild Malaysia’s Higher Education System, Says UTM Vice-Chancellor

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 17 — The upcoming repeal of the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (AUKU) should be seized as a vital opportunity to rebuild Malaysia’s higher education ecosystem into one that is more mature, inclusive, and forward-looking, says Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Mohd Shafry Mohd Rahim.

Mohd Shafry stated that the legal transition must be anchored by a robust regulatory framework capable of nurturing knowledge, intellectual courage, and innovation in response to rapid technological, economic, and geopolitical shifts. He affirmed that UTM fully supports the Ministry of Higher Education’s (KPT) commitment to executing a comprehensive and responsible transformation.

“Today’s universities are not just places to impart knowledge, but also arenas for creating solutions, building ideas and developing citizens who are able to think independently and act ethically,” Mohd Shafry said in a statement today. “Therefore, higher education legislation must evolve in line with changing times, without neglecting institutional stability and public interest.”

The UTM Vice-Chancellor emphasized that institutional autonomy should serve as the bedrock of the nationwide reform, granting tertiary institutions sufficient latitude to determine academic priorities, elevate research output, cultivate talent, and establish strategic partnerships based on their respective strengths. However, he cautioned that autonomy must be balanced with strict governance, noting that institutional independence requires accountability, transparency, integrity, and social responsibility.

Addressing academic freedom as the core foundation of a credible university, Mohd Shafry stressed that both academics and students require space to explore complex issues, present empirical views, and engage in civil disagreement. “However, this freedom requires intellectual discipline. Arguments must be supported by facts, research must be ethical and discourse cannot be used as an excuse to spread extremist views or denigrate human dignity,” he stated.

Mohd Shafry urged that the replacement legislative framework recognize the diversity of the nation’s tertiary landscape, which encompasses public universities, university colleges, technical institutions, and private education providers operating under distinct mandates. To achieve this, he advocated for an open, evidence-based consultative process involving students, academics, administrators, alumni, industry partners, civil society, and legal experts.

“The aim is not simply to change the name of an act, but to produce a regulation that is clearer, fairer and more resilient to future changes,” he noted, reaffirming UTM’s readiness to lend its technical expertise and collaborate with the government to maximize public benefit.

He remarked that the ultimate benchmark of AUKU’s abolition will not rest solely on the date of repeal or the enactment of replacement legislation, but on the tangible capacity of universities to be more courageous in seeking truth, efficient in managing public trust, open to celebrating diversity, and responsive to societal needs. He added that the reform represents a pivotal opening to forge a higher education system that is globally competitive and deeply grounded in human values, aligning with the goals of the Malaysian Higher Education Plan (RPTM) 2026–2035.

The Vice-Chancellor’s statement follows Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement on August 15 reaffirming the government’s commitment to abolish AUKU in order to grant greater democratic space and independence to student movements across Malaysia.

–NMT