International day of the deaf observed

From: Utusan Malaysia Online, Malaysia - Oct 4, 2003

KUALA LUMPUR Oct 4 - National Unity and Social Development Minister Datuk Dr Siti Zaharah Sulaiman in a speech launching celebrations to mark the International Day of the Deaf 2003 has reminded the public that the deaf too yearned to live a normal life.

Malaysia in collaboration with the World Federation for the Deaf (WDF) had been observing this day since 1990, she said in her speech read out by her ministry's Secretary-General Datuk P. Manogran.

Dr Siti Zaharah said a total of 21,981 people nationwide were registered as hearing impaired with the Welfare Services Department.

However the services rendered to them were limited such as the provision of sign language service, she said.

The department had allocated RM36,000 to help train more skilled sign language teachers, she added.

The Malaysian Association for the Deaf had produced several books and VCDs of sign language in various fields including Information Communication Technology.

She said this project was financed by her ministry.

She also said her ministry would draw up an action plan to provide more employment opportunities to the deaf.

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