Construction of premier autism centre well on track

Timely project: Rosmah (second from left) at the groundbreaking ceremony of Permata Kurnia in Kuala Lumpur with Woman, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Hajah Rohni Haji Abdul Karim (right).

KUALA LUMPUR: Construction of the Permata Kurnia autism centre is well on track and it is expected to be ready by February 2015.

Situated along Jalan Sentul Pasar here, the 1.05ha site saw its groundbreaking ceremony officiated by the Prime Minister’s wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, yesterday.

Rosmah said the centre would provide special treatment to autistic children aged between two and six and prepare them for their life ahead.

“The centre will function as a one-stop centre with services such as advice on procedural diagnosis, types of intervention, information and support systems for those who are looking for information about autism,” she said.

She added that upon completion, the RM28mil centre would have water therapy pools, a gymnasium and a green space for children to fulfil their active requirements.

“What is interesting, too, is that the architect who designed the centre is also a mother to an autistic child,” she said.

She added that Malaysia was progressive in running autistic-related programmes similar to that of advanced countries such as the Anova Centre for Education in San Francisco and TreeHouse School in London.

The Permata Kurnia centre will cater to the needs of 300 children.

Findings from studies in 2004 showed that one in every 600 children aged 15 and below in Malaysia were diagnosed with autism.