KUALA LUMPUR: Although there are a select few who seek to abolish the Universities and University Colleges Act (AUKU) 1971, student leadership at local institutions of higher learning have indicated that amendments to the act would be more than sufficient.
Any amendments, they said, should allow for students to have an increased participation 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 the students any further benefit, but in turn, it could affect the management of universities.
"I feel we only need to amend sections in the Act to ensure students receive autonomy.
"I also feel that the Act shouldn't be politicised as 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 in its entirety as only Part II Article 15, 16 and 48 of the Act relates directly to students.
"The section I feel needs addressing is Article 48 which gives the student council the right to administer its own finances and deals with decisions that can affect the campus life of students, as well as social and political matters outside the campus," he said.
He added that any amendment made should be accountable to introduce fairer action and sentencing to students who violate regulations and to boost transparency in university guidelines and management.
Meanwhile, Universiti Utara Malaysia law student Syahril Ahmad Sofian suggested that all efforts to amend the Act should involve student representatives, especially when forming committees at ministry and university levels.
He said that the matter would ensure that opportunity is given to students to determine their rights during their time in university.
"I feel that student unions are what we should fight for, in our effort 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 (Mar 3) Dewan Rakyat sitting, the Higher Education Ministry (MoHE) provided assurances that it would amend all weaknesses in the Act and would table a motion during the next sitting.
Its minister, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin said that several matters are considered in the amendment, including allowing student associations to manage their own association finances. -- BERNAMA