Sabah introduces RM350 monthly subsidy for autism therapy support
April 24, 2026
Rina Jainal receives a memento after officiating the World Autism Day celebration program at the auditorium of Tawau Hospital.
The Sabah State Government has introduced a monthly subsidy of RM350 to support parents who send their children for treatment and therapy at registered autism intervention centres across the state.
Assistant Women, Health and People’s Wellbeing Minister Datuk Rina Jainal said the initiative aims to ease the financial burden faced by families raising children with autism. She explained that therapy fees at autism intervention centres can exceed RM600 per month, placing considerable strain on many households seeking early intervention services. “With the subsidy, parents will only need to pay about RM350, which helps reduce their financial burden,” she said. Rina added that the state government remains mindful of the challenges faced by parents of autistic children and hopes the financial assistance will enable families to access appropriate and timely treatment for their children. She said this when met after officiating the World Autism Day celebration program at the auditorium of Tawau Hospital. The subsidy initiative also aligns with broader state efforts to expand early intervention services through the establishment of the Sabah Autism Center (Paus) under the Sabah Welfare Department. According to Rina, the center is expected to be officially launched in May, further strengthening support services for children with autism and their families. Meanwhile, the Paus Tawau center, which began operations at Sri Stella Air Panas in early March, has already enrolled more than 30 children. Rina noted that autism cases among children are increasing, making initiatives such as the subsidy program and the establishment of Paus centres increasingly important in improving access to therapy while also raising public awareness about autism. |
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