PIMPIN organised a workshop on Al-Quran reading using sign language and braille

By: NUR SA’ADATUL AFZAN JUSOH, CORPORATE COMMUNICATION DIVISION 
Concerned over the plight of people with disabilities (OKU), Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP)’s Islamic Centre and Human Development (PIMPIN) organised a special workshop for the public including for the disabled especially those with hearing and sight impairment on March 26, 2019.
The participants learned about Al-Quran reading in sign language and braille in the workshop which was organised in conjunction with the Mahabbah Carnival 9.0.
A total of 15 programmes have been outlined during the two-week carnival which received the support from the Council of Islamic Religion and Malay Customs of Pahang (MUIP), UMP Holdings (UMPH), Department of Academic and International Affairs (JHEAA), Vice-Chancellor’s Office (PNC), Department of Student Affairs and Alumni (JHEPA) and Centre for Modern Languages & Human Sciences (CMLHS).
On the workshop, it attracted 45 participants comprising UMP staff, government agency personnel and members of the public.
Programme Director, Muhammad Sallehudin Md Derus said the programme provided an opportunity for the participants to enhance their knowledge and understanding on braille and to learn about the facilities available that could provide aids to the disabled.
“The workshop was carried out for four hours, consisting of two slots. The first slot was a briefing on the sign language technique, carried out through group activities. The participants were taught the basic technique as well as the sign language to read the surah of Al-Fatihah and other surahs.
“The second slot involved a briefing on the braille technique and the participants were taught its basic technique,” he said.
The instructor of the workshop was Norakyairee Mohd Ruas, a lecturer with Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM). She is also the Coordinator for Ibnu Ummi Maktum Research Unit (UMMI).
Norakyairee said public awareness towards the disabled should be further enhanced because they were among the groups of people who were often side-lined and received less attention.
“We want to ensure that the disabled such as the deaf and blind do not miss the opportunity to learn Al-Quran more in-depth,” she added  
She also said a workshop such as this should not only be attended by the disabled but also by the normal and abled-bodied people to help increase awareness on the importance of learning basic sign language and on ways to bond with them.
She lauded the efforts taken by PIMPIN in organising the workshop and hoped that more of such classes could be held in the future.