GEORGE TOWN: Universiti Sains Malaysia's Student Representative Council (MPP) has lauded the amendment to the Universities and University Colleges Act (AUKU) 1971.
Its president Muhammad Nazmi Hakimi Mohd Eirman said the amendments gave more autonomy to students, in line with the Higher Education Ministry's student empowerment agenda.
He said the amendments also focused on the permission to collect money, receive donations and coordinate funds to student bodies, coordination of the MPP election period based on the academic year calendar as well as strengthening of student disciplinary governance practices.
"The effect of this AUKU amendments will further strengthen student leadership through the efficiency of financial management by student organisations.
"This is one of the efforts in taking steps towards the empowerment of autonomy and freedom in the organisation of programmes.
"In addition, the coordination of the MPP election period, which is more organised according to the academic year, will improve the student democracy process and the MPP membership period itself," he said.
Nazmi said the USM student council was of the opinion that the tenure of MPP membership would remain guaranteed.
Furthermore, he said, the strengthening of governance practices related to the student disciplinary committee would also be more systematic and orderly.
"There is great hope that these AUKU amendments can be realised immediately and be well received by all parties involved.
"USM MPP is always committed to supporting any effort in realising the student empowerment agenda and fighting for the students' right to freedom," he added.
It was reported that after a long and arduous process, the amendments to the AUKU which would give freedom to students in several matters were passed in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
The amendments, tabled by Higher Education Minister Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir, aimed to realise the agenda to empower students and cultivate student movements in Malaysia.
Zambry said the bill also represented a "progressive" initiative by the government towards empowering students to better manage their lives upon entering adulthood.