By, Aida Mokhtar
IIUM’s Support Association for Parents of Special Needs Children (SUPPORT) had its second annual general meeting (AGM) on 10 April, using a hybrid format thus producing a new lineup of committees for 2026 to 2028.
The AGM involved a presentation from the chairperson on the achievements of SUPPORT and financial report from the treasurer. SUPPORT has organised several events and meetings:
- 2023: SUPPORT became a publisher in 2023 and has published an e-book, with another book in the pipeline.
- 2023-2026: SUPPORT had several meetings with the Management Services Division (MSD) in 2023 and 2024 and the Sports Development Centre (SDC) in 2026 to ensure that the needs of IIUM staff as caregivers and their special needs children are met by the university.
- In 2023, 2024, 2025: SUPPORT held Eid gatherings were held annually except for 2026; in adherence to the Malaysian government’s recommendation for all government offices to be prudent during the current situation with the US–Israel vs Iran conflict. The Eid gatherings were graced by the Rectors and Deputy Rector.
- 2023 to 2026: SUPPORT collaborated with Communication students in organising an exhibition and festivals in the form of the Exhibition of Empowering Persons with Disabilities through Entrepreneurship 2023, Gombak Food Festival 2024, Gombak Food Festival 2.0 2025, Gombak Food Festival 3.0 2026 and the upcoming Gombak Food Festival 4.0 from 5 to 6 May 2026 at Human Sciences Square, IIUM Gombak with SUPPORT taking part as an exhibitor selling food, drinks, a book and merchandise.
- 2024: SUPPORT was endorsed by the university management committee in 2024, and it was launched at the university by former IIUM Rector, Prof. Emeritus Tan Sri Dato’ Dzulkifli bin Abdul Razak, also in 2024.
- 2024 to present: SUPPORT swimming classes cum therapies for children with autism, down syndrome and slow learners coached by instructors from Hawary Sports Centre.
- 2024: SUPPORT organised several webinars featuring the chairperson of Yayasan Budi Penyayang, Puan Nori Abdullah Badawi, IIUM clinical psychologist, Dr. Nadzirah Basri and I, on parents of special needs children as hidden heroes. This webinar was organised in collaboration with Asian Medical Students’ Association Malaysia (AMSA) and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Khairil Hussaini Jamil of IIUM on the Islamic framework of disability inclusion.
- 2025: SUPPORT’s special podcast was produced on Maal Hijrah co-hosted by Dr. Hasmawati and I.
- 2026: SUPPORT conducted a Yassin and Doa Recitation session for Dr. Hasmawati Antong’s ill child with Down Syndrome, Muhammad Wafiy Rifai Bin Ruslang.
- 2026: SUPPORT collaborated with Disability Services Unit (DSU) and IIUM’s Community Based Rehabilitation Centre (PDK) on programmes with NASOM and the braille reading and azan calling competition by the visually impaired with Edote (https://news.iium.edu.my/?p=187063).
The challenges and future plans for SUPPORT were also presented to the members highlighting frustrations, resolutions and recommendations.
After the previous SUPPORT committee members resigned, nominations and voting of the new committees were conducted. The nominations and results were announced to all. There are at present 12 new committees led by me. The new committees compose a mixture of academicians and administrators at IIUM. The new committees entail an academic with KICT, Dr. Siti Asma Mohammed, and an administrator with IIUM’s Development Division, Puan Zahirah Zokri.
SUPPORT is an association for IIUM staff who have special needs children. It was registered with the Registrar of Societies in 2023 after providing support as an informal association since 2018. More information on SUPPORT can be obtained from its official social media pages on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and YouTube.***
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aida Mokhtar, an academic in the Department of Communication, AbdulHamid AbuSulayman Kulliyyah of Islamic Revealed Knowledge and Human Sciences (AHAS KIRKHS), International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). She is the Chairperson of IIUM’s Support Association for Parents of Special Needs Children (SUPPORT).
