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Perlis Royalty join hands with Prof. Dato’ Sri Dr. Mike Chan to Champion Autism Care in Malaysia at ICAANND 2025
KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 29, 2025) — The Raja Muda of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Ibni Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail, and his consort, Tuanku Dr. Hajah Lailatul Shahreen Akashah binti Khalil, today attended the International Congress on Advances in Autism, Neurodevelopmental & Neurodegenerative Disorders (ICAANND 2025) at Glamhall, Damansara — marking one of the strongest royal endorsements yet for nationwide autism support.
Their presence drew a warm reception from hundreds of delegates, who viewed the visit as a clear sign of rising national urgency around autism and neurodevelopmental care.
Royal leadership in Perlis’ autism efforts
Perlis has recorded a steady increase in autism prevalence among school-aged children, rising from 5.53 per 1,000 in 2018 to 7.65 per 1,000 in 2022, according to Ministry of Education data.
Tuanku Syed Faizuddin, who serves as Chancellor of UniMAP, has long championed community-focused initiatives, while Tuanku Dr. Lailatul Shahreen — as UniMAP Pro-Chancellor — has played a central role in shaping the state-run A-HEART Autism Hub, a growing northern centre for training, outreach, early identification and family support.
Prof. Mike Chan: “A historic step forward for Malaysia’s autism care”
Congress organizing chair Prof. Dato’ Sri Dr. Mike Chan described the royal attendance as a milestone for the country’s efforts to strengthen early intervention and evidence-based autism care.
“When royalty stands with clinicians, parents and educators, it sends a powerful message: that autism support deserves national priority,” Prof. Chan said. “This partnership of compassion and science is how we bring help to children earlier, and with greater impact.”
He said the congress builds on months of quiet groundwork.
From Perlis to Kuala Lumpur — Momentum that began in August
Today’s visit follows Prof. Chan’s working mission to Perlis with Dato’ Guna Mahalingam, the Malaysian Honorary Consul for the Consulate of Malaysia in Zurich, Switzerland and Dato’ Nelson Fernandez, Executive Chairman of FMT News Malaysia in August, where they toured UniMAP’s A-HEART Autism Hub, met state education officials, and held discussions with royal family members on strengthening Malaysia’s autism care ecosystem.
Those early conversations, he said, set the foundation for deeper collaboration.
During his speech Prof. Mike Chan expressed his deep appreciation for the visit and support of the Perlis Royalty, stating that it was a great honor to welcome His Highness.
He shared his personal philosophy that conditions considered ‘untreatable,’ such as autism, are indeed treatable. His work focuses on precision medicine, using specialized scoring to identify the exact area of impairment in the brain and providing the necessary cells for repair.
Prof. Mike Chan was particularly surprised and impressed to learn that work related to the autism project above had already been initiated in Perlis.
“We saw the passion of the Perlis royal household firsthand,” he noted. “They care deeply about children, families and the future of autism services in Malaysia.”
Congress draws strong turnout, sets stage for next phase
The two-day congress drew a strong turnout of physicians, complementary medicine practitioners, researchers, and educators seeking practical advances in autism care, neurodevelopmental disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Nearly 200 delegates from across the globe attended ICAANND 2025— a clear sign of rising international interest in Malaysia’s growing role in neurodevelopmental and neuroregenerative work.
Experts and participants travelled from as far as São Paulo (Brazil), Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, as well as Bintulu (Sarawak), Penang, Johor, and every corner of Malaysia. Their presence underscored not only the global relevance of the discussions but also the increasing recognition of Malaysia as an emerging leader in autism research, clinician training, and innovative brain-health protocols.
Toward a national foundation for autistic children
Prof. Chan also revealed that his team is laying groundwork for a non-profit foundation dedicated to autistic children and neurodevelopmental health.
The initiative will:
- expand cross-border clinician training
- share treatment protocols
- support underserved families
- link international expertise with Malaysian practitioners
“Our goal is simple: no child should be left behind,” he said. “We want to strengthen Malaysia’s autism support system so every family has access to proper care — regardless of where they come from.”
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