Harapan's promise to abolish UUCA won't be fulfilled - Khaled

 

PARLIAMENT | Pakatan Harapan's GE15 pledge to abolish the University and Universities Colleges Act 1971 (UUCA) will not be fulfilled.

According to Higher Education Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin (BN-Kota Tinggi), the law was still relevant, especially in the administration of universities.

He told the Dewan Rakyat that the process of abolishing the law required further studies because it will involve other laws such as the Private Higher Educational Institutions Act 1996, Education Act 1996, and Statutory Bodies (Discipline And Surcharge) Act 2000, among others.

However, Khaled (above) said that the government was open to improving the UUCA and was constantly engaging stakeholders.

"Based on this policy, the UUCA has been amended seven times since it was gazetted in 1971. The last amendment was in 2019," he said.

Wide powers

Khaled said this in a written reply to Hassan Abdul Karim (Harapan-Pasir Gudang) who asked if the government will replace the 52-year-old UUCA with a more contemporary law.

Harapan had promised to abolish the UUCA as part of its GE15 election pledges. Its goal was to grant more autonomy to universities and institutions of higher learning.

"The UUCA will be abolished and students, lecturers, and alumni will be recognised as the true stakeholders," read the Kita Boleh! Harapan GE15 Action Plan document.

In its current form, the UUCA grants wide powers to the minister in charge to decide on key appointments for universities such as the position of vice-chancellor.

Critics have claimed that this law allows ministers to appoint vice-chancellors without consideration of merit and thus undermining the autonomy of universities.

The Dr Mahathir Mohamad administration (2018-2020) had plans to abolish the UUCA and replace it with a new law by 2020 but their tenure was cut short. - Mkini