AUKU abolition victory for student movement, says PKR Youth chief

The Malaysian government's decision to abolish the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (AUKU) has been hailed as a significant victory for the student movement, according to PKR Youth chief Muhammad Kamil Abdul Munim. Expressing delight over the announcement by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Kamil emphasized that it marked an important milestone in the ongoing struggle for a more democratic and free campus environment.

Having witnessed the rise of student activism since the late 1960s and early 1970s, Kamil stressed that students are integral to the conscience of society, not just passive observers in lecture halls. He clarified that while student movements have faced growing restrictions through AUKU and other limitations, successive generations of activists have persistently advocated for greater freedom, democratic campuses, and the restoration of universities as platforms for intellectual discourse and academic courage.

Kamil viewed the Madani government's move towards abolishing AUKU within the broader context of this long-standing student struggle, as it recognized the need to prevent students from being confined by a culture of fear and excessive control. He stressed that true university freedom entails responsibility rather than the absence of it, advocating for a mature university environment capable of managing differences through knowledge, reasoned arguments, and dialogue.

Kamil urged Malaysian students and youth to perceive the abolition of AUKU as evidence that reform requires political bravery, patience, and sustained support to transform it into tangible change. Earlier, Anwar had stated that the government would abolish the Act as part of its broader reform agenda, primarily in response to concerns expressed by university students.