Anwar announces repeal of Universities and University Colleges Act, after students push for greater freedom

Anwar announces repeal of Universities and University Colleges Act, after students push for greater freedom



Instagram screengrab shows Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announcing a full repeal of the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (UUCA) at the 2026 PKR National Congress in Melaka on August 15, 2026.


Summary

• Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced the government's decision to repeal the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (UUCA) to address student demands for more liberty.
• Despite numerous amendments aimed at enhancing student freedoms, such as participating in political activities and revising disciplinary procedures, dissatisfaction persisted, leading to this move.
• The government's repeal marks a departure from previous strategies that sought to amend rather than abolish the Act, which has been a longstanding framework for public university governance in Malaysia.
• This decision highlights a significant policy shift in response to advocacy from student groups and aligns with Anwar's previous commitments to remove constraints on student and academic freedom.

By Malay Mail
First Published: Saturday, 15 Aug 2026 11:15 AM MYT


AYER KEROH, Aug 15 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim today announced that the government will repeal the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (UUCA), following continued calls from students for greater freedom.

Anwar, who is also PKR president, said the decision came after several amendments to the Act failed to address all concerns raised by university students, local media reported.


“University students feel that they should be free. We have given them greater freedom through amendments to the UUCA (previously), but there are still some who are dissatisfied, and they have submitted a memorandum,” he said in his policy speech at the 2026 PKR National Congress at the Melaka International Trade Centre here.


“So today, I want to announce that we will repeal the Act.”


The announcement marks a significant shift from the government’s previous approach of amending UUCA to give students greater freedom while retaining the law as the framework for public university governance.


UUCA has been amended several times since it was introduced in 1971, including changes in 2012 that allowed students to participate in political party activities outside campus.

The latest amendments, passed in 2024, included changes to student disciplinary procedures and financial management, including allowing student representative councils and student bodies to collect money and receive contributions subject to prevailing laws and regulations.


In 2023, Anwar had said sections of UUCA restricting the freedom of students and academics would be repealed, while the Higher Education Ministry said at the time that it intended to retain the Act but amend it to give students greater freedom in political activities.

The 2024 amendments also shifted disciplinary decisions involving public university students from the vice-chancellor to Student Disciplinary Committees through amendments to Section 16B.

The amendments further revised Section 15A to allow student representative councils and student bodies to raise funds and receive contributions, subject to applicable written laws and regulations.

UUCA, enacted in 1971, provides the legal framework for the governance and administration of public universities in Malaysia.

Student groups have for years called for the Act to be repealed, particularly provisions they say restrict student participation in politics and public affairs, with Anwar himself previously pledging to remove sections that limited student and academic freedom.

The government’s 2024 amendments had instead focused on improving university governance, student activities and disciplinary procedures while retaining UUCA as the governing framework.