Kuala lumpur: The repeal of the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (AUKU) aims to provide students with enhanced freedom of expression and foster creativity and critical thinking, according to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of allowing students to voice their opinions and engage in open debates, acknowledging that their perspectives might not always be correct.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Anwar highlighted that since students are already eligible to vote at 18, there should be no restrictions on their freedom. He expressed that the abolition of AUKU is intended to give young individuals the space to speak freely, thereby nurturing their creativity, judgement, and critical thinking skills. The Prime Minister made these remarks in response to a question from a student aspiring to enter politics during a Temu Anwar session at the Tuanku Bainun Institute of Teacher Education (IPG) campus.
Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek was also in attendance at the event. Anwar elaborated that the decision to repeal AUKU was made to ensure that university students are not constrained but are instead given room to develop mature and independent thinking. He underscored the necessity of freedom of expression in cultivating knowledgeable future leaders who make decisions based on facts rather than sentiments.
The Prime Minister also addressed the role of political leaders in educating the public with facts and knowledge, warning against the exploitation of racial sentiments. He encouraged young people interested in pursuing a political career to have the 'courage of conviction' and to stand by principles rooted in knowledge and belief. Anwar stressed that politics could be an honourable profession when treated as a responsibility to serve society, but warned that it could become corrupt if used for personal gain.
In a statement, the Implementation Coordination Unit of the Prime Minister's Department (ICU JPM) mentioned that the Temu Anwar session brought together 800 young people, including 400 Form Five students, 277 Form Six students, and 123 students from the Tuanku Bainun Campus IPG. The session allowed young participants to engage directly with the Prime Minister, share their views and ideas, and gain insights into their role in national development.
Additionally, 400 Form Five students from 10 schools in Permatang Pauh attended the MADANI Youth Tuition Programme earlier in the day. The programme, organized by ICU JPM in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, offered coaching in History and Mathematics in preparation for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) examination. The event also included a motivational session for Form Five and Form Six students preparing for SPM and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM) examinations. As part of the government's efforts to support the local education community, ten students received Sejahtera MADANI-Education assistance.