Review of MPTN Act 1996 expected to be completed this October - Noraini

KUALA LUMPUR: The Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) review of the National Council on Higher Education Act 1996 (Act 546), pertaining to the appointment of National Higher Education Council (MPTN) members and the university board of directors, is expected to be completed this October.

Higher Education Minister, Datuk Dr Noraini Ahmad, said the review was made through the power allocated to the Law Revision Commissioner under the Revision of Law Act 1968.

"MPTN was established under Act 546, and functions to plan, formulate and determine national policies for the development of higher education. Currently, Act 546 stipulates that the chairman of MPTN is the Minister of Education.

"Therefore, the process is to re-empower MPTN to face challenges, as the function of the responsible minister is not the minister responsible for higher education," she said while winding up the debate on the motion of thanks for the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's royal address, in the Dewan Rakyat here yesterday.

She said that since the process of reviewing the act may take time, the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) has administratively set up a Higher Education Advisory Committee (JPPT) which carries out part of the MPTN function.

-- BERNAMA