Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim urged the abolition of colonial-era laws during the 2026 Sahabat Madani Merdeka programme at UiTM in Permatang Pauh on August 29, 2026 [1, 2, 3, 4]. He said, "Colonial-era laws must be abolished so that this country can give true meaning to independence" [1].
Anwar emphasized that independence means more than just ending foreign rule; it involves reclaiming Malaysia's right to determine its own destiny, systems, and future. "We do not want our system to be determined by foreigners. We do not want the country's wealth to be taken by foreign rulers and brought out," he said. "We have our religion, our culture and our people, and they should decide" [2].
He highlighted that during the colonial period, foreign powers made key decisions on policy, administration, and resource management from abroad, including London [1, 2].
Addressing university laws, Anwar said he would abolish regulations that restrict student activities. "Freedom does not mean there should be no limits. This is a country governed by the rule of law. But I do not agree with adding laws to restrict or intimidate university students," he stated [3, 4]. The prime minister added that young Malaysians should be trusted to express themselves and be given space to err and learn. "Older people are not always right either, so we should not prevent young people from speaking out or taking part in activities just because they make mistakes," he said [3].
Anwar had announced plans to abolish university laws restricting student activities a week before his speech [3, 4]. His remarks stressed a balance between freedom and rule of law.
The Sahabat Madani Merdeka programme marks a platform where Anwar delivered these calls for reform, underscoring his government's priority to fully reclaim Malaysia's sovereignty and empower its youth [1, 2, 3, 4]. The next steps will include legislative reviews to dismantle remaining colonial legal frameworks.
