By Ashley Sim
KUCHING, June 5: Sarawak’s first outdoor autism-friendly playground, Ausome Park, was officially launched today at the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Palmarium Park, marking a major milestone in creating inclusive public spaces for children with special needs.
The sensory park, the first of its kind in Kuching, was designed specifically for children on the autism spectrum, with features that encourage safe play, sensory stimulation, and social engagement at their own pace.
The initiative was spearheaded by MBKS with input from Redwood Therapy Sdn Bhd to ensure the playground meets therapeutic and developmental needs.
“This playground is more than just swings, slides, and climbing frames. It is a carefully designed environment tailored to meet the unique needs of children with autism.
“We understand that children with autism may prefer to keep to themselves and may find it difficult to interact in traditional playgrounds.
“But here, at Ausome Park, they will have a space where they can be themselves, where parents can bring them with confidence, and where friendships however small can begin to bloom,” said MBKS Mayor Dato Wee Hong Seng in his speech during the launch of Ausome Park at the MBKS grounds here today.
Meanwhile, Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian told reporters after officiating the event that government efforts alone are not enough to support individuals with autism, as community participation is essential to achieving true inclusivity.
Dr Sim, who is also Minister for Public Health, Housing, and Local Government, pointed out that initiatives such as the collaboration between MBKS and the Kuching Autistic Association (KAA) play a vital role in bringing individuals with autism out of isolated care settings and into the community.
Citing figures indicating that more than 1,000 out of 126,000 children in Kuching are likely to be autistic, Dr Sim said the condition is far more common than many realise.
“Autism is a whole spectrum. Some are highly functional and often go unnoticed, but they still need our help, support, and love,” he said.
He stressed that awareness must go beyond the obvious cases, noting that individuals with mild or high-functioning autism may not be immediately recognised but still face significant challenges in daily life.
Furthermore, Wee told reporters that the council initially secured over RM430,000 for the autism-friendly playground project, but the construction costs exceeded the grant amount.
A direct appeal was then made to Dr Sim, who promptly approved an additional RM50,000-plus to cover the shortfall.
“This is part and parcel of what we must do as a city council, to have the awareness that when something is growing in importance, we must step in to help. That’s what we’re doing, to ensure that, as we’ve always said, no one is left behind,” said Wee.
The mayor further expressed that this will be the first of many similar facilities across Kuching and Sarawak, in line with the vision of building a compassionate and inclusive city where no one is left behind.
Wee added that the park not only serves autistic children but also functions as an awareness platform for the public, who visit the space daily. — DayakDaily
