Student autonomy must come with checks and balances, says VC

 Mas Fawzi Ali says Auku's abolishment must be followed by a new law that clearly details university autonomy, academic freedom and accountability measures.

Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia vice-chancellor Mas Fawzi Ali said students must dare to speak with knowledge and criticise based on facts, while understanding trust and accountability. (Bernama pic)

PETALING JAYA:

The vice-chancellor of a public university has called for the planned abolishment of the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (Auku) to be followed by strong checks and balances to prevent the negative use of student autonomy.

Acknowledging the importance of student autonomy and campus democracy, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia vice-chancellor Mas Fawzi Ali said students will need a higher level of responsibility as they are given greater autonomy.

In a statement, he said there was a risk of freedoms being abused, varsity campuses being politicised and external influence affecting academic harmony.

“Having greater autonomy demands greater responsibility, and students need to understand ethics, integrity, the relevant laws and the consequences of their actions,” he said, adding that universities need clear governance mechanisms for this.

Fawzi said giving students the freedom to speak out and voice criticism was crucial to forming graduates who could think critically and maturely.

He said this was part of the learning process in universities, as students are then trained in leadership, conflict resolution and ethical decision making.

“But freedom goes hand-in-hand with responsibility. Students must dare to speak with knowledge and criticise based on facts, while understanding trust and accountability.”

At the PKR national congress last weekend, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Putrajaya would repeal Auku and that the law would not be replaced by any legislation that restricts students’ freedom

Auku was last amended in 2024 to grant student associations greater autonomy over fundraising and other activities. The higher education ministry previously said it had no plans to abolish the law entirely.

Nonetheless, student groups and DAP Youth persisted in pushing for Auku’s repeal.

Fawzi said Auku’s abolishment must be undertaken as a holistic reform rather than just the repealing of a law. He said the Act must be followed by a new legal framework that is more comprehensive and harmonious for the higher education sector.

He said this new legal framework should clearly detail university autonomy, governance, academic freedom, the rights of students and accountability measures.

“Reforming this area isn’t merely about replacing a law but about building a higher education ecosystem that’s more mature, trustworthy and responsible.

“The ultimate goal of education is to birth knowledgeable, human-centric students who put their knowledge into practice while possessing good character.” - FMT