Early Intervention for Special Needs Children in Malaysia: A Forward-Looking Perspective Inspired by the ANIS Selangor Initiative

Abstract

Early intervention plays a crucial role in supporting the development, educational, and social outcomes of children with disabilities. In Malaysia, despite strong policy commitments to inclusive education, significant gaps continue to exist specifically in early identification, access to services, and system-wide coordination. The prominent challenges include inconsistent screening practices, reliance on privatised and specialist-led models, unequal access between urban and rural regions, and limited data infrastructures to monitor developmental outcomes. Learning from lessons on emerging state-wide initiatives such as ANIS Selangor, this Perspective paper outlines a forward-looking agenda for strengthening Malaysia’s early intervention ecosystem. Five strategic actions are proposed: (1) implementing universal developmental screening from ages two to six; (2) establishing hybrid service delivery that integrates competency-based centres, telehealth, and mobile outreach; (3) developing a tiered workforce through competency-based micro-credentials; (4) creating a national early intervention registry with equity dashboards; and (5) adopting sustainable co-financing models that combine federal-state partnerships with diversified funding streams. These proposals are in line with global evidence and WHO Nurturing Care Framework while responding to Malaysia’s unique socio-cultural and infrastructural context. Advancing these reforms can transform early intervention from fragmented provision into a coherent, equitable, and future-ready system that strengthens national progress toward SDG 4 Quality Education and inclusive early childhood development.