{
  "id": 12802988,
  "title": "Higher Education Ministry drops student disciplinary cases during Auku law review",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/higher-education-ministry-drops-student-disciplinary-cases-during",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-08T06:11:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2026/10/1550448/higher-education-ministry-drops-student-disciplinary-cases-during-auku"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "KUALA LUMPUR: The Higher Education Ministry has announced that disciplinary actions against university students will be dismissed while new laws are being drafted and existing ones updated. Despite this, the ministry clarified that severe offenses committed by students will still be governed by national laws. The decision aims to liberate students from restrictive regulations and align existing university policies. Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir made this statement in the Dewan Rakyat today, replying to a question from Dr Ahmad Marzuk Shaary (PN-Pengkalan Chepa). Dr Shaary requested assurance that students would be able to express their opinions without facing disciplinary measures under the proposed law that would replace the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971. The government had previously instructed universities and their student affairs departments to promptly suspend disciplinary actions against students who were only penalized for voicing their views or criticizing national leadership. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim emphasized that universities should serve as forums for open debate and critical thinking, free from regulations established in the 1970s.",
  "summary": "KUALA LUMPUR: The Higher Education Ministry has assured that past disciplinary actions against university students will be dropped while existing laws are amended and a new higher education act is drafted.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Higher Education Ministry reviews 455 university programmes for AI, industry needs",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/08/higher-education-ministry-reviews-455-university-programmes-for-ai",
        "published": "2026-10-08T04:29:25.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}