KUALA LUMPUR: A special KEMAS Pre-School for children with autism will be established in every state starting next year.
Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi stated this initiative aims to ensure nationwide access to inclusive and affordable early education for autistic children.
He explained the move considers KEMAS’s educational ecosystem capability to deliver special needs education.
“Most parents with autistic children are forced to send them to non-KEMAS pre-schools that charge very high fees, thus posing a financial burden on the family,” he said during his ministry’s budget debate winding-up speech in the Dewan Rakyat.
Ahmad Zahid confirmed that if sufficient funds are available, every district will have at least one KEMAS Autism Pre-School by 2027.
He addressed an interjection about ministry preparedness by noting streamlining with the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development for Community-Based Rehabilitation to prevent function overlapping.
Curriculum streamlining has also been conducted with Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris to ensure comprehensive special-needs education implementation.
Regarding governance issues involving agencies like MARA, Ahmad Zahid stated Auditor-General reports and briefings with the Public Accounts Committee and Ministry of Finance found no embezzlement evidence.
He clarified that Kedah Regional Development Authority programme advisors from political activists receive no allowances and help strengthen community engagement.
As Central Disaster Management Committee chairman, he highlighted the early warning system’s use at flood hotspots for two to three days advance evacuation warnings.
Agencies like the National Disaster Management Agency are exploring alternative slope safety methods including early warning devices to detect tremors or soil movement. – Bernama
