KUALA LUMPUR: Budget 2026 is hoped to include greater allocations for the welfare and development of children, particularly those with special needs and from vulnerable groups.
Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri said that in this regard, Members of Parliament were encouraged to take the opportunity to raise the matter with the government, as reported by Bernama.
Nancy also stressed the need to improve infrastructure, particularly to assist children without proper documentation to continue their schooling, as well as to address mental and physical health issues.
"We truly hope that a larger allocation will be provided for children, especially those with special needs, such as autism,” she told reporters after attending a briefing session on the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) for Members of Parliament, on Wednesday (Oct 8).
Nancy said this when her ministry and UNICEF Malaysia convened a Parliamentary Briefing on the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), bringing together Members of Parliament, government agencies and young representatives to renew Malaysia’s commitment to children’s rights.
The session aimed to strengthen Member of Parliament understanding of the CRC and highlight Parliament’s role in advancing children’s rights through legislation, policy and budgets.
Also present were Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul; Dewan Negara President Datuk Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah; and Women, Family and Community Development Ministry (KPWKM) deputy secretary-general (Strategic), Mohd Daud Mohd Arif.
During the session, UNICEF introduced its national campaign, #JanjiKita (“Our Promise”), a call to action for all sectors of society, from Parliament and government to communities, parents, and children to ensure that every child is seen, heard and protected. The campaign is part of UNICEF’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness and mobilise collective action to uphold children’s rights across Malaysia.
Earlier, in her opening remarks, Nancy urged Members of Parliament to place children’s rights at the heart of national policymaking and budget decisions, noting that Parliament plays a crucial role in shaping legislation and allocations which affect the lives of Malaysian children.
"I call upon all Members of Parliament, whether from the government or the opposition, to unite in making children’s rights a true national priority. Issues such as child protection, education, nutrition, the environment and social protection do not belong to one party or another, they belong to the children of Malaysia, and therefore, to all of us,” she added.
With Malaysia set to appear before the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in January 2026, Nancy acknowledged the pressure facing the government ahead of the review, noting that her ministry is actively preparing for the dialogue to assess the country’s compliance with the convention.
"It may sound simple, but it makes us very nervous because it’s not easy to face. It's like an examination, or viva maybe, but in a viva, you might have some idea of the questions, but here, we don’t know what we’ll be asked. So, we really need your support,” she said.
Meanwhile, Johari, in his speech, reaffirmed Parliament’s commitment to protecting children and empowering youth, calling for the legislative body to serve as a platform which listens to and acts for the next generation.
He also highlighted efforts to bring Parliament closer to the people through youth-oriented initiatives, such as ‘Sekolah Parlimen’, ‘Parlimen Belia’ and the National Service Training Programme (PLKN) 3.0, which aim to educate and engage young Malaysians in governance and nation-building.
"This year marks three decades since Malaysia ratified the CRC. But the CRC is not merely a document signed in 1995 - it is a living commitment,” he said, adding that Malaysia is gearing up for the dialogue next year.
