KUANTAN: The National Autism Society of Malaysia (NASOM) plans to develop an autism village in Pahang to provide safe accommodation for autistic adults who have nowhere to live.
The proposal was announced following the visit of the Tengku Ampuan of Pahang, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, who officiated the NASOM Kuantan 2026 Charity Sale at Taman Gelora here today.
NASOM patron Datuk Megat Ahmad Shahrani Megat Sharuddin said the proposed village aimed to ensure that autistic individuals aged between 30 and 50, particularly those who no longer have guardians, received suitable accommodation and continuous care.
He said the centre was proposed to accommodate about 200 residents, with an estimated development cost of RM25 million based on a study conducted.
“When their parents are gone, some of them do not have siblings or family members to take responsibility for caring for them. We want to provide a place so that they are not abandoned,” he told reporters after the event.
Megat Ahmad Shahrani said NASOM was seeking to acquire five acres of land and hoped the proposal would receive the attention and support of the Pahang Royal Institution to make it a reality.
He said Pahang also had the potential to become a settlement for autistic individuals from across the country, not just those from the state.
“NASOM is also trying to obtain financial support from corporate companies and related bodies to finance the project, but providing land is the main requirement before fundraising efforts can be intensified,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said the operating costs of NASOM centres nationwide amounted to about RM7 million a year, while collections totalled only around RM4 million, leaving the association to raise an additional RM3 million annually.
He said the cost of providing education and therapy for autistic individuals was high because the learning approach required more specialised attention, with a low teacher-to-student ratio to ensure each individual’s needs were met.
“NASOM, however, strives to ensure that the fees charged remain affordable for all levels of society, in addition to providing assistance to underprivileged families based on an assessment of their circumstances,” he said.
