By Joan Sim Jo Jo
The Basic Malaysian Sign Language (Bahasa Isyarat Malaysia, BIM) Workshop, themed “The Silent World and the Speaking Hands”, was successfully held on 15 October 2025 at Dewan Majlis, Pusat Pentadbiran Baru Mukah. The event was jointly organised by the Physiotherapy Unit of Pejabat Kebajikan Masyarakat Bahagian (PKMB) Mukah and Social Work Programme internship students from the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities (FSSH), UNIMAS.
The workshop aimed to raise awareness of the importance of Malaysian Sign Language (BIM) as a communication medium for the Deaf community and to promote inclusivity among service providers. The event attracted around 70 participants from various government agencies and organisations across Mukah.
Representing FSSH, Ms. Joan Sim Jo Jo, a lecturer from the Social Work Programme, attended the workshop and met with two internship students, Nur Athirah Zahirah binti Ali and Bivianney binti Joseph, who are currently completing their industrial training at PKMB Mukah. Both students were actively involved as part of the organising committee, demonstrating strong commitment and professionalism throughout the programme.
The Deaf instructor for the workshop, Ms. Lau Ek Bin, from the Sarawak Deaf Community Services Association (SDCSA), conducted engaging sessions on the use of BIM, supported by Ms. Nurul Ain Jannah, the programme organiser from PKMB Mukah who was also the BIM interpreter. Participants had the opportunity to learn basic BIM expressions and gain insights into Deaf culture and communication needs.
During the visit, Ms. Joan also met a 13-year-old Deaf student from Daro, who recently won two gold medals at the Sukan Orang Pekak Malaysia (SOPMA). However, her teacher shared that she is currently placed in a class with students with learning disabilities, which creates learning challenges. This highlights a broader issue in rural Sarawak, where Deaf students often face limited access to suitable educational placement and support.
The Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities hopes that initiatives like this will continue to inspire greater empathy and social inclusion, particularly for persons with disabilities. Through promoting awareness and communication in Malaysian Sign Language, the Faculty envisions a more inclusive society where everyone is given equal opportunities to learn, participate, and succeed.
FSSH – A Partner for Social Change