AUKU amendment sufficient to meet the current needs of tiertiary students

KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 (Bernama) -- Although there are the vocal few who seek to abolish the Universities and University Colleges Act (AUKU) 1971, student leadership in local institutions of higher learning have indicated that amendments to the act would be more than sufficient.

Any amendments, they said, should strengthen and provide more room for students to participate in the management and administration of their universities. 

Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA) student council executive councillor Muhammad Haziq Izzuddin Ridzuan said the total abolishment of the Act would not guarantee students would benefit, but could also affect the management of universities.

“I feel we only need to amend a part of the sections in the Act to ensure students receive autonomy.

"I also feel that the Act shouldn’t be politicised as we already know we attend university not to engage in politics but to further our studies,” he told Bernama.

AUKU is the act that allows the establishment, maintenance and administration of universities and university colleges and related matters.

Universiti Sains Malaysia student council treasurer-general Zakuan Nafis Mohd Yahaya also agreed that the Act should not be abolished entirely as only Part II Article 15, 16 and 48 of the Act relates directly to students.

"The matter I feel that needs addressing is Article 48 that gives the student council the right to administrate its own finances and deals with the involvement of students in decisions that can affect campus life and their active participation in social and political matters outside the campus,” he said.

He added that the amendment should consider the Act’s fairness and accountability by introducing fairer action and sentences to students who violate regulations and to boost transparency in university guidelines and management.

Meanwhile, Universiti Utara Malaysia law student Syahril Ahmad Sofian is susggesting that all efforts to amend the Act should involve student representatives, especially in the formation of committees at ministry and university levels.

He said that the matter would ensure opportunity is given to students to determine their rights and fate during their time in university.

“I feel that student unions are what we should fight for in our efforts to empower students. Therefore, there needs to be a holistic change in the legal provisions (including AUKU).

Syahril said holistic studies and analyses should be done before any decision is reached to amend the Act as each legal provision needs to be relevant with the times and social context.

During yesterday’s Dewan Rakyat sitting, the Higher Education Ministry (MoHE) provided assurances that it would amend all the weaknesses in the Act and would table a motion in the next sitting.

Its minister, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said that several matters are being considered in the amendment include allowing student associations to manage their own association finances.

-- BERNAMA