Maszlee Malik said the amendment was a clear signal that students would now have more political freedom “but it comes with responsibility and accountability”.

He reminded students that political freedom did not mean there should be anarchy but they should instead uphold the trust that had been given to them.

Maszlee said this while wrapping up his ministry’s speech at the second and third tabling of the bill at the Dewan Rakyat today.

He gave the assurance that the students’ involvement in politics would not be curbed.

“If they take part in demonstrations, action would not be taken against them unlike under the previous government,” he said.

However, he said the government would also make sure students would not sideline their studies as the government wanted to produce holistic graduates.

Maszlee said universities would be asked to create a Speaker’s Corner to enable students to debate and voice out their opinions.

He also said that the government is moving towards practising more mature politics as evident in the visits to universities by PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang.

“Politicians, too, have a responsibility to encourage students to study hard and not to abandon their studies.”

Maszlee said students would be able to hold positions in political parties but it would depend on the rules and regulations of the political party.

The UUCA bill seeks to remove the prohibition on students in universities from being involved in political parties within their campus.

The amendments tabled last week were a far cry from the announcement made by the Pakatan Harapan government earlier, where the education ministry had given the assurance that the UUCA would be abolished.

Last month, the ministry said efforts were underway to abolish the act and that this would be done in stages.