SHAH ALAM - For the first time in Malaysia’s history, the government has included a dedicated allocation for autism in the national budget.
This monumental step, announced by Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, reflected the growing recognition of the needs of the autism community and the government's commitment to supporting children with autism and their families.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri expressed her gratitude for the inclusion of these allocations.
"I am very glad, as we have received a budget allocation specifically for autism and this is the first time such an allocation has been made.
"The autism population has increased, so it is crucial that we provide special attention to this issue," she said.
She highlighted that the decision to allocate funds for autism was made after discussing it in her cabinet meeting last week, where Anwar agreed to include it in the budget.
"That is why we have included it in this year's budget. I hope that autistic children and their parents will benefit from these allocations," she added.
To further support families with autistic children, Anwar during the Budget 2025 tabling said the government would build Permata Kurnia Centre, a platform providing pre-school education and early intervention for children including in Kelantan, Terengganu and Sarawak.
Two new schools would also be built in Tuaran, Sabah and Johor Bharu with the cost of RM300 million while a school in Johor Bahru would be the first to focus on education for autistic children.
The government also pledged to continue providing a monthly allowance of RM150 to over 110,000 students with disabilities, involving allocation of RM200 million, aimed at easing the financial burden on families.
Financial assistance for tuition fees would be made available for eligible parents, benefiting approximately 30,000 autistic children through a dedicated fund of RM15 million.