UUCA repeal: Student groups cautious, warn govt against empty promise

Student and youth movements have welcomed Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement that the government will repeal the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (UUCA), but remain cautious about its implementation.

In separate statements, Liga Mahasiswa Malaysia, Universiti Malaya New Youth (Umany), and Mandiri urged the government to provide a clear timeline for the repeal and the introduction of a replacement legal framework.

They also called on universities to halt ongoing disciplinary proceedings against students under the Act following the government’s decision.

“Liga Mahasiswa Malaysia demands the abolition of UUCA be expedited, and all disciplinary proceedings and university disciplinary actions taken under it be dropped immediately.

“The process of drafting a new law must be expedited, with the formal involvement of student movements, academics, and the entire university community through an open and democratic process.

“The new law must guarantee academic freedom and student autonomy,” Liga Mahasiswa Malaysia said.

The group also warned Putrajaya that it was prepared to mobilise a street protest if the government failed to fulfil its promise.

Reforms must go beyond paper

Umany reminded the government of what it described as past failures to fully implement reforms to the law.

It cited previous amendments to UUCA under which the government had said greater financial autonomy would be given to student organisations, including student representative councils.

However, Umany claimed implementation had remained uneven across universities, with some student organisations still facing cumbersome administrative procedures and restrictions imposed by university administrators.

“Umany stresses that the passage of reforms in Parliament does not mean that those reforms will automatically be implemented on university campuses.

“Conservative forces, bureaucracy, and administrative inertia that have long existed within the university system may delay, narrow, or even hollow out reforms that are progressive in principle during the implementation process.

“If the government merely removes the name ‘UUCA’ while allowing the same culture of control, power structures, and administrative mechanisms that restrict students to continue in other forms, then the so-called ‘repeal of UUCA’ will ultimately remain nothing more than reform on paper,” it said.

Umany also called on all institutions of higher learning to immediately review and withdraw all disciplinary actions, investigations, and other measures taken against students for expressing their views, participating in peaceful assemblies, organising activities, engaging in public issues, or exercising their fundamental rights as citizens.

“Since the government has acknowledged that the existing legal framework needs to be abolished, university administrations should no longer continue to treat students through the same outdated culture of control,” the group added.

Clear roadmap for repeal

Mandiri described the decision to repeal UUCA as an important step towards strengthening democracy and freedom in higher education institutions.

However, the movement stressed that the repeal must be carried out in line with its original spirit: restoring student autonomy in managing student affairs and safeguarding academic freedom both on and off campus.

Mandiri coordinator Hamdin Nordin said they did not want the announcement to become another reform promise that failed to materialise.

“Thus, Mandiri urges the Higher Education Ministry to broaden participation in the special committee tasked with coordinating the abolition of UUCA and drafting a new legal framework for the governance of higher education institutions.

“It should publish an implementation plan and timeline openly, including the consultation process, preparation of the legislative draft, tabling in Parliament, and the date on which the abolition takes effect.

“(We also want the ministry to) ensure that the process of drafting the new legislation is inclusive, with the involvement of students, academics, and civil society, and ensure that the new legal framework does not reintroduce restrictions on student freedom in different forms or through different mechanisms,” Hamdin said.

Earlier today, Anwar announced in his policy speech at the PKR National Congress that Putrajaya would repeal the UUCA.

According to Bernama, the decision was aimed at providing greater freedom and wider democratic space for students in the country.

Anwar said the proposal to repeal the Act would be presented to the cabinet next Wednesday.

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