He said the ministry is more focused on empowering tertiary students so that the country’s higher learning institutions can produce quality graduates, reported Bernama.

“I am more inclined towards tertiary students themselves setting (the guidelines) and monitoring (the events),” he told reporters in Johor.

Khaled said he had no knowledge about the proposed guidelines for concerts in higher education institutions, which were purportedly leaked on social media.

He said the department of higher education (JPT) at his ministry had not submitted any proposal on concert guidelines. “JPT has not brought it to me. I don’t know how it (the guidelines) went viral…I haven’t studied (the guidelines either).

“I want to have a look at it first and there is no time frame (to study the guidelines). It is semester break now, so no concerts (are being held),” he said.

Earlier today, the Universiti Malaya Association of New Youth (Umany) accused the higher education ministry of carrying out moral policing under the proposed guidelines.

The student body said the ministry was trying to impose religious governance on campuses.

“The contents of these guidelines are extremely conservative, prohibiting actions such as mixed seating for males and females and artistes wearing shorts (during performances),” it said in a statement.

Umany said the ministry’s proposal on these guidelines without prior warning, let alone consultation, was a blatant disregard for the autonomy of tertiary students.

On June 24, a public university in Terengganu was reportedly fined RM25,000 for organising a concert without the necessary permission.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was reported as saying that he would discuss the appropriate flexibility in the organisation of concerts at public institutions of higher learning with the ministry.