Hear the Unheard: First-Ever Deaf Summit Set for Sibu

Sibu is set to host the inaugural Malaysia Deaf Summit, which signifies a significant milestone for the nation's deaf community.

Organized by the Sarawak Deaf Community Services Association (SDCSA), the summit is scheduled to take place from September 26th to 28th at the Kingwood Hotel in Sibu town.

Deputy Minister for Women, Children, and Community Well-being Development, Datuk Mohamod Razi Sitam, has shown his trust in the success of the summit.

He characterized it as an avenue aimed at fostering continuous chances for the social inclusion and empowerment of the hearing-impaired community.

The Deaf community has consistently encountered systematic obstacles hindering their complete involvement in societal life.

At a press conference, he stated that policies should aim to enhance access, increase funding for community-driven projects, and guarantee their involvement in making decisions.

Mohamad Razi added that a lasting legacy was built on concrete action.

Legal structures should include consistent support measures like organized career paths, inclusive educational systems, and standardized sign language translation services within both government and commercial entities.

Significant transformation occurs when the deaf community is not merely incorporated into discussions but also enabled to take an active role in shaping policies that impact their future.

"Our dedication should be shown through lasting structural changes," he stated.

The CEO of Business Events Sarawak (BESarawak), Amelia Roziman, thinks that events like this summit ought to have a long-lasting impact on the communities they touch.

“This is why over the past few years, BESarawak has worked closely with the Sarawak Deaf Community Services Association to develop this first ever Malaysia Deaf Summit.

The event will magnify voices that should be heard and offer a platform for stakeholders to collaborate.

It will guarantee that the deaf community is included in Malaysia’s progress.

The president of Sarawak Deaf Community Services Association, Albert Wong Tuong Chui, hopes that this summit will lead to concrete actions ranging from enhancing accessibility policies to generating economic prospects.

The main objective of the summit is to gather important participants such as government officials, service deliverers, civil society groups, academics, and individuals from the deaf community.

“He mentioned that it also seeks to address challenges and investigate systemic reforms via education, networking, and direct interaction with policymakers at both the Sarawak level and nationally and globally.”

The summit receives support from the Women, Early Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Ministry of the state, the Sarawak Social Welfare Department, the state Women and Family Department, and the Sarawak Social Development Council.

With the theme "Inclusive Futures: Enhancing Accessibility and Fairness for Deaf Communities," the event will delve into important subjects.

This encompasses inclusive and equitable education, universal health care access, availability of information, provision of interpretation services in communal areas, legal empowerment alongside policy advocacy, along with safeguarding cultural and linguistic heritage.