KUALA LUMPUR, March 8 (Bernama) — University student movement, Gerakan Mahasiswa today submitted a memorandum to members of Parliament (MPs) from the government’s bloc to demand the repeal of the Universities and University Colleges Act (AUKU) 1971 to empower the role of students.

The memorandum was handed over by Universiti Malaya Students’ Union deputy secretary-general V. Dhurgesswaran to Raub MP Chow Yu Hui at the Parliament Building today.

“It is time for us to introduce a new act to replace AUKU as the basis and framework for student activism that is more progressive, fair, balanced and sustainable in line with the transformation in our country,” he said.

In a recent Parliament session, Minister of Higher Education (KPT) Datuk Seri Khaled Nordin said it did not intend to abolish AUKU but was open to any amendment to the act.

Also present at the handing over of the memorandum were the MPs for Bandar Kuching Dr Kelvin Yii Lee Wuen, Tan Kar Hing (Gopeng), Young Syefura Othman (Bentong), Chiew Choon Man (Miri) and Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari (Sungai Petani).

At the same time, Yii said his team has been in contact with the KPT authorities and will bring the students’ demands today to find a common ground to empower this group.

The memorandum involved student representatives from 12 local institutions of higher learning (IPT) including the International Islamic University Malaysia Student Union (IIUM Student Union), Suara Siswa Universiti Malaya, Suara Siswa Universiti Utara Malaysia, Demokrat UniSZA and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman Student Representative Council (UTAR SRC).

Source: BERNAMA News Agency