Political party branches can be set up in public Universities after AUKU amended

(Bernama) – Political parties can set up branches in public universities after the Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 (AUKU) is amended, Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik.

Maszlee said the amendments were in line with the proposed lowering of voting age to 18 years.

“With the changes in AUKU, there will be a Barisan Nasional Undergraduates Club in public universities, a Pakatan Harapan Club, a Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Club and other clubs, like in the developed countries.

“This is in line with the lowering of voting age which we will propose. If it is lowered to 18 years, students will be free to take part in politics, they can nominate from among themselves, they can vote,” he said when winding-up the debate on the Mid-Term Review of the 11th Malaysia Plan for his ministry at the Dewan Rakyat sitting yesterday.

Maszlee was replying to a supplementary question from Noor Amin Ahmad (PH-Kangar) who wanted to know if the ministry had agreed to allow political parties to set up branches in public universities.

However, he said this was only applicable to public universities which came under AUKU.

“There are two universities which do not come under AUKU, which are UiTM (Universiti Teknologi Mara) and UIA (International Islamic University Malaysia),” he said.