MELAKA, 15 August 2026 – Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim on Saturday declared that the Madani government will abolish the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (AUKU), marking a major step in education reform, during his keynote address at the Kongres Nasional KEADILAN 2026.
Speaking to party members in Melaka, Anwar said the proposal to repeal the long-standing law would be tabled at the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday. He framed the move as part of efforts to produce graduates who are knowledgeable, ethical, technologically skilled, rooted in their culture and history, and competitive on the global stage.
“Atas keyakinan terhadap kematangan mahasiswa, saya mengumumkan bahawa Kerajaan MADANI akan meneruskan reformasi ini dengan memansuhkan Akta Universiti dan Kolej Universiti 1971 (AUKU),” Anwar stated.
In his policy speech, the PKR president revisited the party’s roots, recalling the Permatang Pauh Declaration made 28 years earlier. He said the movement had chosen the difficult path of uniting Malaysians across race, religion and region to build a more democratic, just and humane nation. He also paid tribute to the late Dato’ Onn Jaafar’s earlier vision of a political platform that transcended ethnic boundaries.
Anwar reflected on the long struggle that included street protests, imprisonment, defeats, victories and betrayals. “Dahulu kita menuntut perubahan. Hari ini, setelah diberikan amanah menentukan arah negara, tanggungjawab kita adalah melaksanakannya,” he said.
He acknowledged that while political stability had enabled important reforms amid a challenging global economy, many public concerns remained unaddressed. Economic growth, he stressed, only matters when ordinary people feel improvements in their lives — through better jobs, decent wages, stronger schools, hospitals, transport, housing and support for families in need.
The Prime Minister also addressed lingering problems of mismanagement and betrayal of public trust in institutions such as Tabung Haji and FELDA. He insisted that no one would be protected.
“Saya tegaskan bahawa sesiapa yang menyeleweng dan mengkhianati amanah rakyat mesti berhadapan dengan hukum serta keadilan,” Anwar said, adding that the consequences of such wrongdoing had been borne by Malays, Chinese, Indians, Bumiputera of Sabah and Sarawak, and all Malaysians.
Turning to the younger generation, Anwar urged post-Reformasi youth not to treat the past struggle as a burden of nostalgia. Instead, they should understand its origins and redefine its meaning for themselves — becoming braver, better educated and willing to challenge outdated thinking, including that of the older generation.
He called on KEADILAN members, Pakatan Harapan partners, other Madani government allies, dakwah groups and NGOs to join in completing the unfinished reform agenda and writing a new chapter for a more just and dignified Malaysia.
The congress is being held under the theme “Memugar Reformasi, Membina Madani.”
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