Ngu (left) presenting the agreement for the new Sibu Autistic Association building to contractor Lau Hieng Toh, while Tiong (second from left) looks on.
SIBU Autistic Association (SAA) is constructing a bigger building costing RM6.5mil to accommodate the increasing number of children with autism.
Its chairman David Ngu said the number of children diagnosed with autism in Sarawak’s central region was increasing each year.
There were just 70 in 2019 and this had gone up to 152 last year, he said.
Ngu said the current premises at Agape Centre could only accommodate up to 50 children.
“There is urgent need to have a larger place for the children,” he said during the project award and agreement signing ceremony with contractor Happiwin Development Sdn Bhd.
Ngu said the new building would be located next to Agape Centre in Jalan Alan and could accommodate 200 children.
Construction is expected to be completed in 15 months.
Ngu estimated that there were 1,000 children with autism in the central region.
“Quite a number of the children who had received early intervention can now cope very well in the community,” he said.
Ngu also expressed his appreciation to Sibu Community Service Association chairman Datuk Tiong Thai King for giving them the greenlight to occupy the land to construct the new building.
Tiong also praised SAA, which was formed in 2000, for providing early intervention programmes.
“Over the years, you have done your best to open a window for children to communicate with the world.
“Here we have witnessed children making progress little by little and overcoming communication barriers.
“Behind these miracles, there is the power of early intervention,” he said.
SAA, he said, not only provided therapeutic courses, but also offered mutual assistance network for parents, organised workshops on home intervention skills and even sought government support for special families.
“The new building will have modern facilities such as special classrooms, treatment rooms and entertainment areas, which can greatly improve the level and quality of the association’s services and further benefit the children,” added Tiong.
