Auku repeal alone won’t guarantee youth votes for PH, say analysts

While repealing the Universities and University Colleges Act (Auku) could bolster Pakatan Harapan's (PH) credibility among young voters, analysts warn it won't guarantee their support, reports FMT. Universiti Teknologi Malaysia’s Mazlan Ali and Universiti Malaya’s Tawfik Yaakub highlighted students' long-standing push for Auku's abolition, noting no government has dared to do so since its inception in the 1970s.

The coalition's announcement signals a step towards appeasing young people, who view the law's repeal as a bold move, potentially restoring PH's reform credibility among students and the youth, especially those prioritizing free speech, campus democracy, and institutional reforms. However, Tawfik emphasized the repeal alone wouldn't suffice to secure widespread youth support for PH.

Young people constitute a vast, diverse group concerned not just with Auku but also with jobs, wages, housing, living costs, student loans, and opportunities for social mobility. Tawfik pointed to the recent Johor election, where young Malay voters veered towards Barisan Nasional, underscoring the complexity of winning youth votes.

Additionally, many student groups demanded a clear timeline for Auku's repeal, demanding actions, not just announcements. For PH to reap political benefits, Mazlan argued, the repeal must culminate in more autonomous universities, broader academic freedom, freedom of association, and a platform for students to voice opinions without undue restrictions.

Seen as the key to unlocking a wider reform process, the repeal of Auku could evaluate PH based on a larger package encompassing democratic freedoms, job opportunities, wages, living costs, education, and government integrity.