Malaysia to Repeal Universities Act Following Calls for Greater Student Freedom
Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (UUCA) will be fully repealed following demands from university students for greater freedom. The decision is regarded as a significant policy shift in terms of higher education governance and student rights in the country.
Speaking at the 2026 PKR National Congress in Melaka, Anwar stated that although the law had been amended several times in previous years to expand student freedoms, the existing provisions had still failed to fully address students’ concerns. He said the government decided to repeal the Act after student groups submitted their demands.
Enacted in 1971, the UUCA has served as the main legal framework governing the administration and management of public universities in Malaysia. However, student organizations have long called for its repeal, particularly on the grounds that it restricts students’ participation in political activities and public affairs.
The Act has been amended several times over the years. Changes introduced in 2012 allowed students to participate in political party activities outside campus. The most recent amendments, passed in 2024, revised student disciplinary procedures and transferred some disciplinary authority from university vice-chancellors to student disciplinary committees.
Prime Minister Anwar had previously argued that provisions restricting the freedoms of students and academics should be removed. However, the government’s earlier approach focused on expanding student freedoms through amendments rather than repealing the law entirely.