INCLUSION must be backed by real access to services, education and support systems for individuals with autism and special needs, says Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
He said society must move beyond raising awareness and focus on creating meaningful pathways for families and individuals who require long-term assistance.
“Inclusion must be supported by access to early intervention, to education, and to safe, structured environments where individuals can grow with dignity and confidence.
“Only then can inclusion move beyond intention and be realised in meaningful ways,” he said when launching the Autism Acceptance Campaign 2026 (AAC26) at MCKL Penang (Pykett Campus) today.
Chow said close to 89,000 children with autism had been registered in Malaysia as of March 31 this year, with numbers continuing to rise.
“Behind these figures are real individuals and families, each with their own hopes, challenges and aspirations.
“This reality calls for support systems that are not only present, but responsive, accessible and sustained,” he said.
He commended the Penang Shine Like Stars Association for its 15 years of service and the growth of the initiative into its ninth campaign.
He said organisations such as the association played a vital role in supporting families and bridging service gaps in the community.
Chow noted that the association currently supports 17 families, while many others remain on the waiting list due to space limitations.
“The waiting lists faced by organisations such as the organisers here today are a clear reminder that demand continues to outpace capacity.
“Expanding access, strengthening community-based support, and ensuring long-term pathways for individuals with higher support needs must remain our collective priority,” he said.
Chow said the state government has continued strengthening support for persons with disabilities through initiatives such as i-Sejahtera.
He said under Phase 1/2026, RM50.93mil had been allocated to 274,151 recipients, including 16,694 persons with disabilities.
He added that Penang’s growing network of centres providing therapy, education and vocational support is helping to build a more inclusive ecosystem.
“A compassionate society is not defined by how we treat the majority, but by how we support those who need us the most,” he said.
Chow also thanked organisers, sponsors, partners and volunteers for making AAC26 possible.
State Social Development, Welfare and Non-Islamic Religious Committee chairman Lim Siew Khim explained Penang must move beyond autism acceptance and work towards meaningful inclusion in schools, workplaces and communities.
She said acceptance alone was not enough if systems and opportunities remained unchanged.
“We can say we accept, we can say we understand, but if nothing changes in our systems, then nothing truly changes in people’s lives.
“That is why we must move from acceptance to inclusion, not just in words, but in schools, in workplaces, and in our communities,” she said.
Penang Shine Like Stars Association chairman Katherine Koo said the campaign is not only about awareness, but about acceptance in action.
“Acceptance means inclusion, understanding, and creating opportunities for every individual to belong. This year’s theme, Unlabelled, reminds us to recognise people for their dignity, abilities and true selves beyond assumptions,” she said.
During the event, Tanjong parliamentary service centre also contributed RM10,000 to the Penang Shine Like Stars Association.
Among those who attended were Chow’s wife Tan Lean Kee, Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Wong Yuee Harng, and Tanjong service centre representative.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Muhammad Iqbal Hamdan
Video by Darwina Mohd Daud