KUALA LUMPUR: A special Kemas pre-school (Tabika) for children with autism will be built in every state starting from next year, says Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister added that the move to set up the special pre-school is to ensure that access to inclusive and affordable early education is provided for children with autism nationwide.
The move, he said, also took into account the Kemas educational ecosystem, which is capable of offering such 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.
"Next year, every state will build this special Kemas pre-school for children with autism, and, Insya-Allah, if there are sufficient funds, by 2027, every district will have at least one Kemas autism pre-school,” said Ahmad Zahidi, who is also the Rural and Regional Development Minister.
He said this when winding up the debate on the Supply Bill (Budget) 2026 at the policy stage for the ministry at the Dewan Rakyat on Wednesday (Oct 29).
Replying to an interjection by Datuk Rosol Wahid (PN-Hulu Terengganu) regarding the ministry's preparedness for the initiative, Ahmad Zahid said the streamlining process has already been carried out with the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development for the Community-Based Rehabilitation (PDK), so that there is no overlapping of functions.
As for the curriculum, he said the streamlining process has also been carried out with the Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) to ensure the special-needs education curriculum could be implemented comprehensively.
Commenting on the issue of governance involving several agencies, including Majlis Amanah Rakyat (Mara), under the ministry, Ahmad Zahid said that the results of the review from the Auditor-General's reports, as well as briefing sessions with the Public Accounts Committee and the Ministry of Finance, found no evidence of embezzlement.
"On the appointment of Kedah Regional Development Authority (Keda) programme advisors among political activists, I'd like to clarify that they do not receive any allowances. They are asked to help strengthen engagement with participants and the local community,” he said.
Meanwhile, in preparation for the coming Northeast Monsoon season, Ahmad Zahid, who is also the Central Disaster Management Committee chairman, said the early warning system is being used specifically at flood hotspots to enable evacuation warnings to be issued two to three days earlier.
In addition, the agencies involved, such as the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) are also looking at alternative methods for slope safety by planting early warning devices in slope areas to detect tremors or soil movement.- Bernama
