Meradong has 15 young children with special needs: Rosey

A total of 15 children aged six and below with special needs are registered in Meradong, including 10 diagnosed with autism.

Deputy Minister for Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Datuk Rosey Yunus said the figures were recorded as at Oct 6, 2026, in response to Datuk Ding Kuong Hiing (GPS-Meradong) during question and answer session on Friday (Oct 16).

She said the registered children comprised one with cerebral palsy, three with global developmental delay, 10 with autism and one with intellectual disability.

Rosey said the ministry was open to considering outreach-based services to improve access to intervention for children with special needs in areas such as Meradong.

However, she said the feasibility of introducing such services would depend on several factors, including the number and needs of children requiring intervention, the availability of specialised personnel, suitable local facilities and the capacity of existing service providers.

In response to a separate question from Wilson Nyabong (GPS-Pelagus), Rosey said participants in the Women Vocational Skills Training (WST) programme were not charged any fees, as the programme was fully funded by the Sarawak government.

Participants were also not required to provide their own equipment or materials, as all necessary requirements throughout the training period were provided under the programme.

However, they remained responsible for expenses outside the programme’s funding, including transportation to and from training venues and personal expenses.

Rosey said participants were expected to attend training sessions according to the prescribed schedule, comply with programme regulations and actively participate in learning activities and practical training.

She added that non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in constituencies could apply to the department for grants by submitting proposals for activities addressing the needs of women and local communities.

Potential areas of support included economic development, family development, leadership, advocacy and women’s safety.

Rosey said proposed programmes must align with the department’s mission, address the actual issues and needs of target groups, and have clear objectives and measurable outcomes.

She said the structured approach would help ensure collaboration with NGOs was more focused and impactful, strengthening efforts to empower women, promote family wellbeing and support community development throughout Sarawak.