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

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 19 — The upcoming legislation to replace the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) 1971 will not hinder the autonomy of students or undergraduates, according to Government spokesman Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil. The new Bill will instead concentrate on the administrative and managerial facets of universities and university colleges, according to Fahmi.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim informed the Cabinet that matters concerning students and undergraduates would be excluded following the government’s decision to repeal UUCA 1971, which was announced last weekend. Fahmi, who is also the communications minister, clarified that laws involving the police and other authorities remain applicable to students and undergraduates.

Last Saturday, it was revealed that Anwar, while delivering his presidential policy address at the 2026 PKR national congress in Melaka, announced the government’s intention to abolish UUCA 1971. The UUCA 1971 was established to oversee the establishment, governance, and administration of public universities and university colleges in Malaysia, but it was later found to be restrictive to student freedom and activism.