Kuala lumpur: Budget 2026 is hoped to include greater allocations for the welfare and development of children, particularly those with special needs and from vulnerable groups. Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri emphasized the importance of this initiative, encouraging Members of Parliament to take the opportunity to raise the matter with the government.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Nancy stressed the need to improve infrastructure, particularly to assist children without proper documentation to continue their schooling, as well as to address mental and physical health issues. She expressed hope for a larger allocation for children, especially those with special needs, such as autism, during a briefing session on the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) for Members of Parliament.

Also present at the session were Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul; Dewan Negara President Datuk Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah; and Women, Family and Community Development Ministry (KPWKM) deputy secretary-general (Strategic), Mohd Daud Mohd Arif. Nancy urged Members of Parliament to place children’s rights at the heart of national policymaking and budget decisions, noting that Parliament plays a crucial role in shaping legislation and allocations which affect the lives of Malaysian children.

She called upon all Members of Parliament, regardless of their political affiliations, to unite in making children’s rights a national priority. Nancy emphasized that issues such as child protection, education, nutrition, the environment, and social protection are universal concerns that belong to all Malaysian children.

With Malaysia set to appear before the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child (CRC) in January 2026, Nancy acknowledged the pressure facing the government ahead of the review. She noted that her ministry is actively preparing for the dialogue to assess the country’s compliance with the convention, likening the preparation to an examination where the questions are unknown.

Meanwhile, Johari reaffirmed Parliament’s commitment to protecting children and empowering youth. He called for the legislative body to serve as a platform that listens to and acts for the next generation. He also highlighted efforts to bring Parliament closer to the people through youth-oriented initiatives, such as ‘Sekolah Parlimen’, ‘Parlimen Belia’, and the National Service Training Programme (PLKN) 3.0, aimed at educating and engaging young Malaysians in governance and nation-building.

Johari remarked that this year marks three decades since Malaysia ratified the CRC, emphasizing that the CRC is a living commitment. He reiterated Malaysia’s readiness for the upcoming dialogue with the United Nations Committee on the Rights of the Child.