Khaled, who had confirmed earlier that there were no plans to repeal Auku despite calls from various quarters, said the ministry could consider making further amendments to the Act.

“The ministry is currently considering amendments to the Act, which include amendments that would allow student groups to manage their own accounts.

“We will try to bring up these amendments at the next Dewan Rakyat meeting,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.

He was responding to Dr Kelvin Yii (PH-Bandar Kuching), who asked whether the ministry could discuss further amendments to Auku with MPs since the Act and the Private Higher Educational Institutions Act 1996 (Act 555) still had sections that stifled students’ freedom.

Last week, Khaled had said Auku was still relevant, especially for matters involving the administration of universities. He also said abolishing the law required further scrutiny as it involved other legislation like Act 555, the Education Act 1996, and Statutory Bodies (Discipline and Surcharge) Act 2000.

This prompted backbenchers like Yii and Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman to urge Putrajaya to reconsider this stand, pointing out that it was among Pakatan Harapan’s key pledges for the 15th general election.

The Universiti Malaya Students’ Union also reminded Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim that Auku was used to censure students who invited him to the university in 2014.