A Ramadan of inclusion

Despite growing efforts to accommodate people with autism, more needs to be done to embed this awareness during this festive season.

INCLUSION is proving to be a recurring theme this Ramadan.

Partly, this is facilitated by much greater relaxation of Covid-19 measures: compared to last year, more people were able to be present for the first terawih prayers at Istana Besar Seri Menanti, after the firing of the cannon that traditionally marks the beginning of puasa following the announcement by the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal.

This year, too, the tradition of royal breaking of fast across the different luaks (districts) of the Tanah Mengandung has been revived.

Every week, the Yang di-Pertuan Besar and Tunku Ampuan Besar will visit mosques in Ulu Muar, Jempol, Terachi, Gunung Pasir and Inas to pray, break fast and interact with the local communities headed by the penghulu who answer to the Ruler in accordance with the state’s Adat Perpatih.

It is heartening to see young people revelling in these events: when asked opinions about school and the future, there is generally a sense of optimism that even in rural parts, brighter things are coming.

In these simple but meaningful gatherings, we also see the unique intersections between Negri Sembilan’s customs and Islam throughout history which has been proudly maintained.

One example is the flourishing of mosques that were built on land donated by matriarchs of the local suku (clan).

Coincidentally, this Ramadan saw the 100th anniversary of the death of Tuan Tulis (Haji Ismail Hussein), a religious man of letters whose writings and teachings contributed to the development of Islam in Negri Sembilan and neighbouring Pahang.

Legend has it is that, even after his death, he appeared in a dream to heal my great-great-grandfather Tuanku Muhammad who was feeling ill while in London in 1925!

Another coincidence this Ramadan was the recognition of a new Penghulu Luak.

Jempol recently saw the election – through the relevant suku’s own rules of matrilineal democracy – of its 12th Penghulu, and by tradition the new bearer is brought to the Istana to be presented to the Ruler.

Ancient precedent determined the promise to uphold the post’s responsibilities, but the incumbent brings 21st century experience in insurance and running a small enterprise.

After a stop in Port Dickson to restart the rehabilitation of the local squash community, hampered in recent years by Covid, I returned to KL where various buka puasa events have continued the embrace of diverse aspects of Malaysia.

I was very glad that the director of the Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur Education Department joined the breaking of fast at the cafe run by the Dignity for Children Foundation, where quality education and a vast array of vocational activities have been uplifting children for 25 years.

In many cases, students have become teachers in the school founded by a pastor but attended by children of all faiths and nationalities.

In my speech, I stressed that the government must urgently take action to properly recognise these efforts through the provision of licences for the institutions and recognition of the students themselves: issues that also face my colleagues at Yayasan Chow Kit and Ideas Academy who were also in attendance.

April also sees the arrival of World Autism Month, and colleagues from both the Rawang and Nilai branches of Ideas Autism Centre (IAC) ran a booth at Nu Sentral to highlight issues surrounding children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Awareness has been increasing over the years, helped by fantastic examples of small businesses run by people with ASD, and large businesses slowly adopting policies to ensure more inclusive hiring practices.

Federal and state government initiatives have also helped: from better registration and specific aid for persons with disabilities, PLANMalaysia’s guidebook for autism-friendly cities, the GENIUS Kurnia school run under a collaboration between the ministries of Education and Health, and the “Neurodiverse @ Work Movement” by HRD Corp.

It’s vitally important that everyday locations are sensitive to people with autism, too.

In this regard, Sunway Putra Mall has been a leader in being an autism-friendly mall, while KLIA’s “Butterfly Effect” initiative offers facilities for travellers with autism and other hidden disabilities.

These are just some of the existing and growing efforts for people with autism, but more needs to be done to embed this awareness and accommodation in policy.

In the meantime, IAC’s current campaign – Bringing Smiles to Autistic Children this Ramadan – aims to provide food supplies, therapy, education and training programmes for our students and their families.

I hope you, dear reader, are touched by the spirit of inclusion and charity this Ramadan too!

Tunku Zain Al-‘Abidin is founding president of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs. The views expressed here are the writer’s own.