Dewan Rakyat passes amendment to UUCA

PARLIAMENT | The Dewan Rakyat tonight passed the amendment to the University and University Colleges Bill 1971 (UUCA) to allow students to take part in political party activities within the grounds of their universities and colleges.

Also passed were related amendments to the Private Higher Educational Institutions Act 1996 (PHEIA) and the Educational Institutions (Discipline) Act 1976 (EIDA).

Education Minister Maszlee Malik assured the amendment to the UUCA will eliminate the culture of fear in higher education institutions.

Winding up the debate on the amendment, he said universities can now invite politicians from both sides of the divide to give talks on campus upon the approval of the vice-chancellor.

All ongoing disciplinary actions against students for taking part in politics will cease to proceed as soon as the amendment to the UUCA takes effect, he added.

However, students who participate in political activities will still be subject to the law and the relevant rules and regulations, he said.

"We urged students to utilise this freedom with a sense of responsibility," he said.

Maszlee said the government, in particular, the Education Ministry, will no longer interfere in the management of universities and dictate how their decision related to political activities should be.

The Pakatan Harapan government has pledged to repeal the UUCA and replace with a new law in 2020.

After the UUCA was introduced in 1971, it was amended in 1975 by then-education minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to quell student protests over an alleged famine in Baling.

At a forum in December 2016, Mahathir said he did not regret amending the UCCA saying students should focus on their studies instead of protesting. - Mkini