INTERVIEW | A bill to amend the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) and other relevant laws is expected to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat tomorrow, said Education Minister Maszlee Malik.

“Tomorrow will be the first reading of amendments for certain sections, not only in UUCA but also other laws which are similar to UUCA.

“These amendments are to give more academic freedom to the students,” he told Malaysiakini in an interview in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon.

Maszlee said along with UUCA, the amendments would also include laws such as those concerning private universities, polytechnic schools and Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM).

However, the minister does not intend to stop at just these amendments, adding that the full repeal of UUCA and other similar laws is still in progress.

“The full repeal requires a more comprehensive law (because it is) not only to replace (UUCA) but also other similar laws (so it) requires a longer time.

“But no worries, it is in progress because the committee which is responsible to draft the new law is on the right track and we are expecting by 2020, we will have a more comprehensive law to replace not only UUCA, but other laws similar to UUCA.

“Because UUCA is not only about politics, it is also about the governance of universities and financial issues,” he explained.

During the 14th general election, Pakatan Harapan had promised to repeal the UUCA, among other laws, if it forms the federal government.


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