It takes a village: Society plans RM25m place in Pahang for autistic adults with nowhere to go

KUANTAN, Oct 31 — The National Autism Society of Malaysia plans to develop a RM25 million village in Pahang to provide safe accommodation for adult autistic individuals who currently have nowhere to live. The idea was announced after the Tengku Ampuan of Pahang, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, officially opened the society's Kuantan 2026 Charity Sale Ceremony at Taman Gelora.

Datuk Megat Ahmad Shahrani Megat Sharuddin, the society's patron, stated that the proposed development aimed to provide suitable accommodation and continuous care for autistic individuals aged 30 to 50, who often lack guardians or siblings. The centre is estimated to house around 200 residents and costs around RM25 million to build, according to a study.

Megat Ahmad Shahrani hopes the proposal will gain the attention and support of the Pahang Royal Institution. He added that Pahang has the potential to become a settlement for autistic individuals from across the country, not just within the state. The society is seeking financial support from corporate companies and related organizations but acknowledges that obtaining land is the primary requirement before intensifying fundraising efforts.

Currently, the society's centers across Malaysia incur annual operating costs of RM7 million, while they only receive RM4 million in funds, leaving a yearly gap of RM3 million. The high cost is due to the specialized attention required for autism education and therapy, with a low teacher-to-student ratio to cater to each individual's needs.

However, the society aims to keep fees affordable for all levels of society and assist underprivileged families based on their circumstances.