Malai Didi: The Heart Behind SMARTER Brunei

This conversation has so many layers. I had the honour of sitting down with Malai Didi, CEO of SMARTER Brunei, and what unfolded was more than just a discussion about autism. It became a heartfelt reflection on legacy, grief, and resilience. Malai Didi shares the story of her late father, Malai Hj Abdullah, one of the founding members of SMARTER Brunei. She opens up about the grief of losing him, and how, in many ways, he had been preparing her all along to step into this role and carry on the work he started. We talked about what autism really looks like, the different parts of the spectrum, and how we can build a more compassionate and inclusive community. I’m so grateful for this conversation and for people like Malai Didi who continue to show up, do the work, and lead with heart.