KUALA LUMPUR — A special Kemas Pre-School (Tabika) for children with autism will be built in every state starting from next year, said Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He added that the move to set up the special pre-school is to ensure that access to inclusive and affordable early education is provided for children with autism nationwide.

The move, he said, also took into account the Kemas educational ecosystem, which is capable of offering such special needs education.

“Most parents with autistic children are forced to send them to non-Kemas pre-schools that charge very high fees, thus posing a financial burden on the family.

“Next year, every state will build this special Kemas pre-school for children with autism, and, Insya-Allah, if there are sufficient funds, by 2027, every district will have at least one Kemas Autism Pre-School,” said Ahmad Zahidi, who is also the minister of rural and regional development.

He said this when winding up the debate on the Supply Bill (Budget) 2026 at the policy stage for the ministry at the Dewan Rakyat today.

Replying to an interjection by Datuk Rosol Wahid (PN-Hulu Terengganu) regarding the ministry’s preparedness for the initiative, Ahmad Zahid said the streamlining process has already been carried out with the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development for the Community-Based Rehabilitation (PDK) so that there is no overlapping of functions.