KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- The overall allocation for assistance to persons with disabilities (OKU) has been increased to RM1.5 billion, benefiting more than 300,000 individuals, says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said the allowance rate for the care of bedridden OKU and chronic patients had been raised to RM600 a month from RM500, while the income threshold to qualify for the OKU worker allowance had been increased to RM2,000 from RM1,700.
He said the Special Education Needs Allowance (EMBPK) would be increased from RM150 to RM200 a month, benefiting 150,000 special needs students, including autistic children.
Anwar said the Special Education Teaching Incentive would be increased from RM250 to RM300 to benefit 20,000 special education teachers.
"Two Permata Kurnia Centres will be built in Melaka and Pahang as dedicated centres to provide education, support, and training for autistic children," he said when tabling Budget 2027, themed "Reaching for the Sky, Rooted in the Ground", in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Anwar said more than 130 new Tabika Tunas Istimewa classes would be opened in rural areas nationwide to enable autistic children from low-income families to receive more effective early intervention.
In addition, he said 15 Community-Based Rehabilitation (PDK) premises would be upgraded to Special Therapy Centres to benefit 20,000 registered Down Syndrome individuals.
Anwar added that 3,000 new OKU carers would be equipped with specialised skills to meet the demand for disability care services nationwide.
On Orang Asli welfare, Anwar said the Department of Orang Asli Development (JAKOA) would be allocated RM445 million to implement various projects, including the replanting initiative in Pos Poi, Sungai Siput, Perak, as well as constructing Orang Asli kindergartens in Kampung Angkek and Pos Belatim in Gua Musang, Kelantan.
He said the government had also agreed to build a special hostel to house 100 students in the Kinta district, Perak, as Orang Asli children living far from school faced the risk of dropping out due to daily commuting difficulties.
-- BERNAMA