THE Penang Youth Development Corporation (PYDC) and the Penang Deaf Association (PDA) will be organising a basic Malaysian Sign Language course to encourage Malaysians to take up the additional skill.
The programme (a complete course) consists of four days and will be held on Aug 17, 18, 24 and 25.
State Youth and Sports Committee chairman Soon Lip Chee said it was crucial for the younger generation to take up sign language.
“It is timely for us to learn the language so that we are able to communicate better with those who are deaf.
“It is good to know that youth are taking up language classes such as Japanese language, Korean language, Tamil language and others. It would be great if they can also take up sign language.
“This is a useful soft skill, allowing the community to be more inclusive towards those who are deaf. It will help the people to understand them better,” Soon told a press conference in Komtar today.
PYDC general manager Thoy Siew Ping said the event encouraged Malaysians to be a caring society.
PDA president Razman Tan Abdullah thanked the Penang government and PYDC for the effort.
He said that PDA currently has about 1,000 members.
“There are still many people in Penang who did not apply to be a member of PDA, especially the younger generation,” he said.
The basic Malaysian Sign Language course is open to Malaysians aged 18 to 35.
It will be held from 3pm to 5pm at the PYDC office in The Whiteaways Arcade, Beach Street.
The registration fee is RM50 for the entire course. Those interested can register at https://forms.gle/msYsp5YMB1KgjbsA9
Participants will learn introductory sign language; and the art of communicating with deaf people and understanding their culture. Participants will also be required to sit for an examination.
For more details, call the programme executive officer Khor Kar Tien at 012-401 0186.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud