‘Beginning, not the end’: Abim calls for broader higher education reform after AUKU repeal

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 15 — The Muslim Youth Movement of Malaysia (Abim) welcomed the repeal of the Universities and University Colleges Act (AUKU) 1971, stating that it presents an opportunity to reform the country's higher education framework. Abim president Ahmad Fahmi Mohd Samsudin emphasized the need for a comprehensive post-AUKU legal framework that balances student freedom and strong institutional governance.

He called for a new higher education ecosystem that fosters student freedom, university autonomy, integrity, accountability, and academic excellence. Samsudin urged the government to involve students, academics, university administrators, and relevant stakeholders in developing the post-AUKU framework. He stressed that the reform must be meaningful to students, involving them in decisions affecting education, welfare, and campus life.

Samsudin also advocated for the development of a campus culture that encourages critical thinking, exchange of ideas, student organizations, and societal contribution. The repeal of AUKU is not the end, but the beginning of higher education reform, according to Abim.