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KUCHING: The Sarawak government is taking a big step towards inclusivity with the construction of the Special Needs Community Centre (SNCC) at the Samarahan Rehabilitation Centre this year. This initiative aims to support special groups across all age ranges, ensuring they are not left out of society.
Sarawak Women, Children and Community Wellbeing Minister Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah stated that the centre will offer essential services and support “from cradle to grave” with a construction budget of RM55.7 million. The SNCC is a state government project under her ministry, designed to uphold the rights of children from special groups in areas such as education, sports, talent development, and the arts.
“I am very happy that our state government has recently provided employment opportunities for special needs children who have graduated from university. Some of them have even secured positions in the civil service,” she said during the Autism Art Exhibition 2025 at The Spring shopping mall on Thursday.
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Growing Awareness and Support for Autism
Dato Sri Fatimah also highlighted a positive shift in society’s perception towards children with autism.
“So far, the number of children with autism registered at the One Stop Early Intervention Centre (OSEIC) has increased from 100 to 400. This shows that young parents today are more aware and accepting of their children’s condition,” she said.
She noted that in the past, some parents hesitated to send their children to special centres due to societal stigma, but this attitude is gradually changing.
Developing Future Para Athletes
Beyond providing care and education, the SNCC will also focus on nurturing talented individuals in sports. The centre will train aspiring athletes with disabilities, giving them the opportunity to compete in Para Sukan Malaysia (Sukma) with more structured training programs.
Dato Sri Fatimah hopes that the SNCC will bring long-term benefits to the special needs community, helping Sarawak move towards a more inclusive society. — EDISI UKAS