Nine remarkable mothers were recognised for turning deeply personal journeys of raising children with special needs into advocacy, empowerment and meaningful change for others through Anugerah Ibu Kiwanis 2026.
KUALA LUMPUR, 26 October 2026: Motherhood can begin with the simple instinct to protect one’s child. For some mothers, however, that journey becomes something much bigger — a lifelong commitment to creating a better world not only for their own children, but for others facing similar challenges.
That was the spirit behind Anugerah Ibu Kiwanis (AIK) 2026, which honoured nine remarkable mothers at a special Hi-Tea at Hyatt Regency Kuala Lumpur at KL Midtown on Sunday.
Held under the theme “A Mother’s Touch, A Lifetime of Love”, the annual recognition by Kiwanis Club of Taman Tun Dr Ismail celebrates mothers raising children with special needs, as well as mothers whose own lives have been shaped by disability and inclusion.
This year’s recipients were Ashley Pang Yek Sze, Datin Hasnah Abdul Rahman, Katherine Ho Tsui Mee, Joyce Lim Lay Kuan, Naneecharam Muniandy, Elahe Norman, Rajeswari Paramasevam, Thilagavathy Karmegham and Zuraini Anuar.
Their stories are different, but there is a common thread — they did not allow challenges to become the end of their children’s stories.
Instead, many turned their experiences into advocacy, support networks, creative opportunities, education initiatives and practical help for other families.
Anugerah Ibu Kiwanis 2026: Nine Journeys, One Powerful Message
Ashley Pang Yek Sze has built a life around supporting her son Alexander, who has Down syndrome, while creating opportunities for other young people and adults with disabilities through initiatives including Alex’s Bakery, Alexo Store and Project Kindness.
Katherine Ho Tsui Mee’s journey with her autistic son Jonathan led her to establish Persatuan Kebajikan Sinar Cahaya Istimewa Kuala Lumpur, which focuses on vocational training, skills development and social opportunities for neurodivergent individuals.
Naneecharam Muniandy, mother of two children on the autism spectrum, turned her personal journey into wider support for autistic children and mothers, including through yoga, mindfulness and her social enterprise Autism Flowers.
Rajeswari Paramasevam has devoted herself to helping her autistic son Varma develop his abilities as an artist, while also sharing their journey through her book Tears, Hope and Varma – A Mother’s Story and supporting autism-related organisations.
Thilagavathy Karmegham spent 13 years supporting her son through childhood cancer and later shared their experience through writing, offering encouragement to other families dealing with serious childhood illness.
Zuraini Anuar nurtured her daughter Izzati’s artistic abilities following her autism and Down syndrome diagnoses and went on to create platforms and opportunities for artists with disabilities through WE & I Art.
Elahe Norman, a mother of five and co-founder of Tasptra Perkim, turned her experience caring for her son with developmental and learning difficulties into decades of work supporting children with disabilities and their families.
Joyce Lim Lay Kuan, whose son Clarence is autistic, recognised his abilities in music and supported his development as a pianist while advocating for opportunities for musicians with special needs all over the world.
And then there is Datin Hasnah Abdul Rahman, NMH‘s own Editor-In-Chief.
From Raising Four Boys To Raising A Voice For Many
A mother of four sons and a single mother, Hasnah’s journey with autism began decades ago when her son Ahmad Ziqri was diagnosed at four.
She has described the years that followed simply: she tried everything.
Special education. Therapies. Learning. Research. Writing. Public relations. Emceeing. Food and catering. And the list goes on.
Whatever could help her family survive, and whatever could put food on the table, she was prepared to try.
But somewhere along the way, raising her own children became the starting point for something much bigger.
Her experiences raising Ziqri and her younger son Aidel, who is also on the autism spectrum, eventually led her into advocacy for neurodivergent individuals and their families.
In 2018, when Ziqri came into contact with the justice system, Hasnah found herself speaking publicly about the need for greater understanding of autism and more appropriate procedures when people with special needs encounter the authorities.
It was a difficult chapter, but it also strengthened her determination to advocate.
Today, as President of Pertubuhan Rentak, Irama, Seni & Ekspresi (R.I.S.E.), Hasnah is working to move the conversation beyond awareness towards real opportunities for neurodiverse young adults — through talent development, mentoring, skills, employment pathways and inclusion.
Her philosophy is straightforward: see the person before the diagnosis.
And her advocacy is not limited to her own sons.
She represents families raising children on the autism spectrum, single parents navigating the challenges of raising neurodiverse children, and families who struggle to find the resources and opportunities their children need.
“I represent families with children on the autism spectrum,” Hasnah said.
“I represent single parents trying to bring up their neurodiverse children on their own. I also represent the parents of kids with challenges and not knowing where their next meal will be.”
For her, motherhood has never been simply about getting a child through childhood.
“Raising a child means planning for the future. Raising a child with special needs means the future is now.”
From Awareness to Opportunity
The message of AIK 2026 extends beyond the nine women being honoured.
This year’s programme also marked an important development in Kiwanis’ work with the launch of the Kiwanis Child Development Centre (KCDC), established to provide more accessible intervention and therapy services for children from lower-income families.
The centre offers developmental assessment, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy, with subsidised services intended to ease the financial burden faced by families who might otherwise struggle to access private therapy.
It is a fitting addition to an award that recognises mothers whose lives have often been shaped by the same question: What happens when a child needs more support than a family can afford?
The answer, increasingly, is that families should not have to face that journey alone.
A Mother’s Touch, A Lifetime of Love
For Hasnah, the award came as something of a surprise.
Her eldest son, Bob Morshidi, had nominated her with support from friends and colleagues. She had forgotten about the nomination by the time Kiwanis called.
She was in court and could not answer the call.
The message from Bob was much simpler:
“Congrats Mum, you won!”
She had to ask: “Won what?”
On Sunday, she found out exactly what.
But perhaps the most meaningful part of the afternoon was not the award itself.
It was sitting among eight other mothers whose stories reflected different forms of courage, sacrifice and love — and seeing how each had transformed personal challenges into something positive for others.
As Hasnah reflected after the ceremony, difficult times may last for a while, but they do not have to define the future.
That may be the most powerful message of Anugerah Ibu Kiwanis 2026.
Behind every child who needs extra support is a mother who keeps going.
And sometimes, behind that mother’s determination is the beginning of change for an entire community. – NMH
Anita Pandian is a versatile media writer and PR professional, with expertise in media management. She excels at creating compelling content, managing media relations, and developing strategic public relations campaigns. Her ability to engage audiences and strengthen brand narratives allows the companies she represents to effectively communicate their messages and enhance their public profiles. A seasoned broadcaster and TV host, Anita combines her on-screen presence with her PR acumen to offer a unique perspective, blending storytelling with corporate communications to drive visibility and impact for her clients.
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