Govt orders halt to student disciplinary probes under UUCA

The Higher Education Ministry has ordered an immediate halt to disciplinary proceedings against public university students over freedom of speech and public assembly issues.

In heeding Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's call for greater student freedom pending the formal repeal of the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (UUCA), the ministry said certain parts of the law have since been identified for "immediate exemption".

In particular, it listed provisions under the Act and the Student Disciplinary Rules that it deemed restrictive to students' freedom of speech and association.

The mentioned provisions touch on freedom in managing associations, clubs, and student activities, alongside freedom of speech, assembly, use of communication platforms, as well as the distribution and publication of documents.

"In line with these measures, all disciplinary proceedings related to freedom of speech, expression of views, public criticism, and peaceful assembly across all public universities must cease with immediate effect," the ministry said in a statement today.

However, it added that such freedoms must be coupled with responsibility and the rule of law.

"Acts involving violence, vandalism, property damage, criminal offences, academic misconduct, or lawful disciplinary breaches remain subject to existing laws and regulations," it affirmed.

It added that since the International Islamic University Malaysia and Universiti Teknologi Mara are not bound by the UUCA, a similar review will be conducted on their respective student-related provisions to ensure alignment with the government's reform measures.

Students’ freedom

On Aug 26, Anwar reportedly ordered public universities to relax regulations that unnecessarily constrain student expression, including by immediately dropping all non-criminal disciplinary action against students.

"If it is a police case, that’s a different matter. But, at the university level, investigations must be stopped because waiting for the UUCA to be repealed will take time," Free Malaysia Today quoted him as saying during a forum at Universiti Malaya.

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He also cautioned that freedom of expression has its limits, stressing that there is still a requirement for appropriate mechanisms to protect universities and their officials.

Anwar previously vowed that any replacement for the UUCA will not impede students' freedom, with a bill on the Act's abolishment expected to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat this year.

Higher Education Minister Zambry Abd Kadir has also noted that a more comprehensive legislative framework for higher education, outlined in the Malaysia Higher Education Plan 2026-2035, would replace the UUCA.

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