MUKAH: The Malaysian Sign Language (BIM) Workshop themed ‘The Silent World and The Speaking Hands 2025’ organised by the Mukah Division Social Welfare Office brings a clear message of human values ​​and empathy to the deaf community.

Tellian Assemblyman, Royston Valentine said that sign language is not just hand movements, but a symbol of recognition of the dignity and human rights of People With Disabilities (PWDs).

“When we learn sign language, we actually listen with our hearts.

"This sign language workshop is suitable for participation by all levels of society, not just government agencies because it can help us communicate better and understand the needs of the hearing impaired community," he said.

He said this when officiating the closing ceremony of the workshop, here, on Wednesday.

The BIM workshop successfully attracted the participation of various government agencies and community organisations, strengthening efforts to form an inclusive and disabled-friendly society.

In this regard, Royston stressed that in daily life, there may be situations that require immediate communication with individuals with special needs, especially when involving official or emergency matters.

Meanwhile, Mukah Division Social Welfare Officer, Dariel Thiong Yiew Seng in his speech earlier said, the workshop was an initiative of physiotherapists in collaboration with interns from Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS).

He said the objective of the workshop was to provide exposure to the basics of communication using Malaysian Sign Language as well as raise awareness of the need to create a deaf-friendly environment for the disabled.

"Sign language is a language of unity that teaches us respect and to recognise the deaf community as an equal part of society," he explained.

Also present were Mukah Division Resident Representative, AO Josy Demei, Mukah District Officer, Peleadzman Ahip and Mukah District Police Chief, DSP Muhamad Rizal Alias. -UKASnews