Auku repeal offers chance to reset higher education, says UPM VC
KUALA LUMPUR: The proposed abolition of the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (Auku) offers a timely chance to reset the country’s higher education landscape, says Universiti Putra Malaysia vice-chancellor Datuk Professor Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah.
Universiti Putra Malaysia's vice-chancellor, Datuk Professor Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah, believes the proposed abolition of the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (Auku) presents a timely opportunity to reset the nation's higher education sector. Farhan argues that this move should lead to increased autonomy for universities, with the Higher Education Ministry concentrating on policy-making while institutions have more freedom to manage their day-to-day operations.
Such a change could help universities enhance governance and achieve financial stability in the long term.
The higher education landscape has changed significantly since the 1971 Act was introduced, and many of its provisions now require reconsideration. As universities face unprecedented new challenges, Farhan emphasizes that any new framework governing higher education should focus on equipping students with the necessary skills and experiences to become future nation-builders and leaders.
Farhan's remarks come after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced plans to abolish Auku, positioning it as part of the government's broader effort to accelerate reforms, following initial priorities on political stability, national security, and economic growth. Other university leaders have also welcomed the move, viewing it as a chance to strengthen institutional autonomy, governance, and academic freedom.
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