The image is in two parts. On the left is the black and white “Make the Right Real in Malaysia” logo of The OKU Rights Matter website. To the right of the logo is a photo: Beatrice Leong, Malaysian woman documentary filmmaker, stands in front of her community at the Autistic Pride Day Get-Together, Taman Tugu, June 2023. Beatrice, with a neat black fringe over her eyes and hair swept up in a top curl, is dressed in a black polo shirt and khaki pants. Beatrice holds a white placard with handwritten text (black font): I AM AUTISTIC (Very large font size) ALSO A WOMAN (the remaining text in large font) A FEMINIST AN ACTIVIST A HUMAN

Childhood Disabilities

Malaysia is facing a critical issue with childhood stunting, now affecting 24% of children, which is higher than in poorer neighboring countries. Leading experts, including Dr. Amar-Singh HSS, are calling for a national emergency response to address this alarming rise in childhood disabilities.

Childhood Disabilities

Malaysia Needs A National Emergency Response To Stunting In Children — Dr Amar-Singh HSS by Codeblue

Malaysia’s Childhood Stunting Rises To 24%, Worse Than Poorer Neighbours by Codeblue

Top 5 at 5: Rising Childhood Stunting in Malaysia Raises Alarm by BFM 89.9

Leaving no disabled child behind: Autism numbers are only part of the story by The Star MY

Leaving no disabled child behind: Autism numbers are only part of the story by The Borne Post

State of Children in Malaysia

Every child in Malaysia has the right to survive, grow, learn and be protected from harm. These rights are set out in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Malaysia’s ratification of the CRC in 1995 means these rights are to be lived realities, rather than aspirations.
This report explores — from a civil society perspective — how far Malaysia has kept the promise of the CRC.

“The State of Children in Malaysia” is a work in progress that brings together evidence on child health and development, child protection, disability, and the situation of children in vulnerable and marginalised circumstances. For each area, it sets out what is known, where the data are incomplete or contested, and where policy and practice fall short of children’s needs.

The report is written for policymakers, service providers, civil society actors, and all who care about children.
It is grounded in official and peer-reviewed sources. Where figures conflict or evidence is thin, it states this plainly.
The aim is to give a clear, honest picture of where Malaysia’s children stand, and to point to what must change so that no child is left behind.

The Changing Childhood Landscape

Childhood today unfolds against a backdrop of rapid technological, economic, and social change unlike anything faced by previous generations. Outdoor, unstructured play has given way to screen-saturated, adult-organised time, eroding what was once considered a ‘traditional’ childhood … The goal is not to optimise children for a predictable future, but to prepare and equip them for an unpredictable one. Achieving this requires a fundamental shift, not only in what we ask of children, but in the heartsets, mindsets, lifestyles, and policies of the adults around them: parents, educators, and policymakers.”

See full article: Amar-Singh HSS, (2026)
Keynote Address: The Changing Childhood Landscape: Why
Flexibility and Adaptability Matter
Sarawak Preschool International Convention (SPIC) 2026, 25 – 27 September 2026, Kuching,
Ministry of Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development,
Sarawak, Malaysia.

FAQ’s

What are the rights of children with disabilities?

Children have rights to early intervention, healthcare, and education under the UN CRC and the CRPD.

Why is early intervention critical?

It provides support during critical developmental years, significantly improving long-term educational and social outcomes.