Fahmi: New legislation to replace UUCA will exclude provisions affecting student freedom

The new legislation set to supersede the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) 1971 will not impede the freedom of students or undergraduates, according to government spokesman Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil. The upcoming bill will focus on the administrative and managerial facets of universities and university colleges, rather than student-related issues.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim indicated to Cabinet members that matters concerning students would be left out of the new legislation, as part of the government's plan to abolish the UUCA 1971, announced last weekend. Fahmi, who serves as Communications Minister, emphasized that existing laws applicable to police and other authorities would continue to be in effect.

It was reported last Saturday that Anwar, addressing the presidential policy speech at the 2026 PKR national congress in Melaka, declared the government's intention to abolish the UUCA 1971, noting that certain amendments had been made but still did not meet the requirements of undergraduates. The UUCA 1971 was originally enacted to regulate the formation, oversight, and administration of public universities and university colleges in Malaysia; however, it was later viewed as inhibiting student freedom and activism.