Govt’s reform agenda rests with PM, says Rafizi

Rafizi, formerly the economy minister, said based on his experience in government, he did not see significant resistance from Umno when reforms were proposed.

However, he also said that Umno was unlikely to be the main driver of reforms after decades of being part of the political system it helped shape.

“So, if you expect Umno to come up with reforms in government, that will not happen. It has to be driven by PH through the prime minister,” he said in the latest episode of his “Yang Berhenti Menteri” podcast.

Rafizi said reform proposals could originate from the prime minister or individual ministries, but the prime minister ultimately decided whether ministry proposals would be brought to the Cabinet.

“In the end, the gatekeeper is the prime minister,” he said.

Rafizi also cited Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s recent announcement that the Universities and University Colleges Act (Auku) would be repealed as an example of the prime minister’s role in shaping the government’s reform agenda.

He welcomed the move, but said the real test was whether it would be followed by further changes in higher education.

He also said the 13th Malaysia Plan already included a proposal to begin granting autonomy to one public university as a pilot project, which he said he had helped introduce.

He hoped the repeal of Auku would move reforms in that direction, saying university autonomy should encompass both academic freedom and funding.

Enacted in 1971, Auku has long been the subject of debate over students’ freedom to protest, organise, and express views on political and public issues.

It was last amended in 2024 to give student associations greater autonomy over fundraising and other activities.

The higher education ministry had previously said it had no plans to abolish the law in its entirety, but has now said it will form an independent committee to study all aspects involved in drafting a new law to replace Auku.