Program Roadshow Ahli Majlis Kebangsaan Bagi OKU Bersama Komuniti Tempatan

There were 15 RoadShow were held over all states and federal territories on July 29 and 30, 2013, which was co-organized by MKBOKU and JKM.

The purpose of the roadshow was to collect concerns from People with Disabilities (PwD) to understand how they could form  actions to rectify the problems of the Communities in Malaysia. 

I attended two Roadshows in KL and Shah Alam. To my disappointment, I saw many PwD relies on the financial support from JKM heavily and therefore, I heard about money issues for almost 3 hours in KL, of course, some of them sought better improvement in the community and it was better when I heard different issues in Shah Alam, where they screamed for better improvement.

听障者心声 你听见了吗 ? (Nanyang Siang Pau) July 15, 2013 [English translation is available]

天生失聪的张伟义（中）从不放弃学习。目前他正报读马来亚大学的博士学位。

听障者拥有发言权。在2008年，马来西亚颁布了“残疾人士法令”，马来西亚手语（BIM）受承认为国家的规范手语，意味着手语已被确认为一种语言，听障者也有发言的权利。

天生失聪的张伟义，不久前发给本报一封英文电邮，字里行间一一陈述听障者生活上所面临的情况，并希望自己能够成为这个弱势群体的发言人，透过与媒体合作的管道，让人们听见听障者的心声。

他写道：“I would like to take stand for them...”，为听障者争取及维持公平与合理的社会待遇，促进听障者与健听人士之间互相尊重及了解，双方一同建设伤健共融的和谐社会。再者，“Time is not waiting for us.”

Communication gap amongst Deaf people within the Community

Only today I realized that there is a huge gap in the communication amongst Deaf people using sign language.

I realized that I have some difficulties in determining whether the persons I signed were able to grasp what I said to them. They may say they understand what I said. I would take it that they understood the signs I made to them, but my question is whether do they really understand the meaning I tried to convey. 

Malaysian Sign News made available in Facebook

Recently I was informed about this Malaysian Sign News, which can be shortened as MSN which you may go to this website (http://www.facebook.com/mysignews), however, you would have to register for a new account at Facebook. It is a little hassle for those who don't have Facebook account, especially for those who don't have access Internet at home or workplace. It does not have the same privilege with the daily news media, which can be printed on the papers and made available online, such as The Star, Berita Harian and Nanyang Siang Pau and Makkal Ossai, which are in different spoken/written languages.

It is unfortunate to say that our valued Malaysian Sign Language, which I would abbreviate as BIM as it is agreed in the Community, could not be lettered on the papers. However, it makes BIM as a unique language, and BIM has its own linguistics and equal status and have with other spoken languages around the world. You would not be able to use BIM and Malay or English simultaneously in effective way because BIM would become meaningful if it is "assisted" by Malay or English.