THE allowance for students with special educational needs has been increased from RM150 to RM200 per month, benefiting 150,000 special needs students, including autistic children nationwide.
Finance Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim stated that the Special Education Needs Teaching Incentive for 20,000 special education teachers has also been raised from RM250 to RM300 per month.
“To strengthen support and early education for autistic children, two new Permata Kurnia Centres will be built in Melaka and Pahang to serve as dedicated training and guidance hubs.
“More than 130 new Tabika Tunas Istimewa classes will be opened in rural areas across the country to ensure that autistic children from low-income families receive effective early intervention services,” he said while tabling the 2027 Budget in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Meanwhile, he noted that 15 Community-Based Rehabilitation (PDK) premises would be upgraded into Specialised Therapy Centres, benefiting 20,000 registered individuals with Down Syndrome.
He added that the government also aims to provide specialised skills training to 3,000 new caregivers for persons with disabilities (OKU) to meet needs and enhance the quality of care services for this group at the national level. – October 9, 2026