Auku amendments must be substantial, says Muda chief

 

Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman said students and academics in public colleges and universities should be allowed to express themselves freely without worrying about repercussions.

PETALING JAYA: Proposed amendments to the controversial Universities and University Colleges Act (Auku) 1971 must be substantial, says former youth and sports minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.

While Syed Saddiq preferred having the Act repealed as a whole, he said substantially revamping the law would be the next alternative in order to guarantee greater freedom for students and academics.

The Muar MP said students and academics in public colleges and universities currently governed by the Act should be allowed to express themselves freely without worrying about repercussions.

The law has been controversial because it places restrictions on the freedom of speech, assembly, and association of students, faculty, and staff at higher education institutions.

“My personal goal is to get Auku removed or substantially amended, so that students are allowed to discuss politics without any threats.

“This will also allow more speakers, regardless of political affiliation, to come into campuses to speak openly and freely,” Syed Saddiq said in a forum hosted by Sinar Harian.

He said the law should also allow university boards to select their own vice-chancellors or deputy rectors, instead of having them appointed by a minister or politicians.

Earlier, higher education minister Khaled Nordin said a bill to amend Auku would likely be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat this year. Khaled had repeatedly said the government had no plans to abolish Auku.

Syed Saddiq also called for student unions to be given more clout and freedom by allowing them to be members of the university senate or boards. He suggested that universities emulate the International Islamic University of Malaysia, where a student union representative sits on the senate to represent students’ interests.

Separately, he urged the government to fund microcredential programmes while encouraging more youths to enrol in technical and vocational education and training (TVET).

He said microcredentials can be completed quickly in six to nine months, while government subsidies to push students in that direction could help in their employability.

Microcredentials are short, focused learning programmes that enable individuals to develop specific skills or gain knowledge in a particular subject area.

Syed Saddiq also called for the government to continue giving out free tablets to underprivileged students, an initiative started by the Ismail Sabri Yaakob government.

He said this initiative would help in the country’s digitalisation endeavour. “(The government) should not have stopped it but instead tailor it to the ‘B60’ income group.” - FMT