Why Malaysia wants university students to study the Constitution and history
Malaysia is moving to make the study of its Constitution and national history compulsory in higher education, as the government seeks to strengthen civic awareness and national identity among young people.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced that revised general studies subjects covering the Federal Constitution and Malaysian history will be introduced at all public and private universities, taught fully in Bahasa Melayu.
The move reflects concern at what Anwar described as a basic gap in knowledge among graduates, adding it was unreasonable for Malaysians to complete university without understanding how their country is governed or how it came to be.
Under the plan, the subjects will be embedded within general education courses rather than added as stand-alone requirements, in an effort to avoid overloading students in specialised fields.
Anwar said a foundational grasp of constitutional principles and history was essential to safeguarding the nation, particularly as Malaysia navigates political, social and economic change.
He pointed to the Constitution as the backbone of the country’s system while stressing that unity must be balanced with respect for diversity.
According to Anwar, education should help students appreciate Malaysia’s multi-ethnic and multicultural society, and understand values such as justice, humanity and shared responsibility.
"If we want to safeguard this nation, all our children must master basic, foundational knowledge of the Constitution and history,” the prime minister said. “This will be covered under general studies.”
Revamped education roadmap
The policy is part of the newly launched National Education Blueprint 2026–2035, which aims to align education reforms from school level through to higher education.
The blueprint is jointly led by the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education, with each ministry responsible for implementing reforms within its sector.
Beyond curriculum changes, Anwar also addressed student welfare, acknowledging persistent complaints over the lack of affordable accommodation, especially in major cities.
He said the government has directed government-linked investment companies to take the lead in developing student housing, rather than relying solely on private developers.
An initial target of 5,000 additional accommodation places has been set, with projects to be developed in cooperation with selected universities.
Elsewhere, Malaysia’s decision to integrate constitutional and history studies has drawn attention within Southeast Asia.
In the Philippines, former higher education chief Prospero de Vera contrasted the move with proposals to cut general education (GE) subjects in senior high school, in a bid to “decongest” the curriculum.
The Philippines was the last country in Asia to adopt a 12-year basic education programme, implementing it only in 2012.
“While our more developed ASEAN neighbors will now require additional GE subjects, our politicians are obsessed with reducing the GE program,” de Vera said. “We need better leaders."
Together, Malaysia’s educational reforms signal a broader effort by the Anwar administration to anchor education more firmly in national values, while addressing practical pressures faced by Malaysia’s growing student population.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
