KOTA KINABALU, Oct 25 — Sabah Deputy Chief Minister III Datuk Ewon Benedick has allocated RM50,000 to the Sabah Autism Society (SAS) to support entrepreneurship initiatives aimed at creating skills-development opportunities for individuals with autism.

The funding will support activities at autism centres operated by SAS, with programmes scheduled to begin in 2027. Among the planned initiatives is a roselle cultivation project in Tuaran.

Ewon, who is also Sabah Industrial Development, Entrepreneurship and Transport Minister, said the initiative reflected his concern for families raising children with special needs and the importance of expanding opportunities for the autism community.

“As a parent raising a child with special needs, my wife and I share the concerns of other parents who are bringing up special children,” he said.

He announced the support after officiating the sixth edition of the UMS Sunset Autism Run at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS), which attracted more than 1,000 participants.

The event aimed to raise public awareness of autism and strengthen community support for individuals with autism and their families.

SAS president Jennifer Balanting welcomed the allocation, saying it would help the association implement its planned entrepreneurship activities and create opportunities for individuals with autism to develop their skills.

She thanked Ewon for his support, as well as UMS, participants, corporate sponsors, entrepreneurs with disabilities, volunteers and others who contributed to the success of the event.

The funding is expected to strengthen SAS’s efforts to complement autism awareness with practical initiatives that promote skills development and participation in entrepreneurial activities.