THE Higher Education Ministry (MOHE) will amend the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 to address its weak points, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Its minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said one of the issues being considered is allowing student associations to manage their own accounts.

“We will try to raise this matter in the next parliamentary session,” he said during Ministers’ Question Time.

He was responding to a supplementary question from Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen (Bandar Kuching-PH) who said the act contains certain provisions that restrict university students’ freedom.

Khaled said the government has given university students the freedom to join political parties, whether on or off campus, and become candidates in elections.

“All these matters have already been relaxed and may include what has been proposed by Yang Berhormat,” he said in response to a supplementary question by Muhammad Islahuddin Abas (Mersing-PN).

Earlier, Islahuddin asked whether MOHE would allow political organisations to establish branches in university campuses to promote democratic practices and cultivate mature politics in line with education system reforms.

Khaled said since the government has no proposal to repeal the act, the appointment of public universities vice-chancellors by the minister will be done in accordance with procedures and provisions of relevant legislation approved by the parliament. – Bernama, March 2, 2023.