KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 5 (Bernama) — 24-hour news channel, Bernama TV has created history by becoming the second domestic television broadcasting station to utilise the services of a sign language interpreter for the Bernama Bulletin news broadcast starting Monday.
In addition, Bernama TV, which was launched in 2008, became the first broadcasting station in the country to use the services of a sign language interpreter for sports news broadcasts.
Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chairman Senator Ras Adiba Radzi said the improvements were made to give more options and opportunities to persons with disabilities (PwD), especially the deaf category to enjoy the news broadcast.
“We want to ensure that the news presented is PwD-friendly so that all categories of PwD can appreciate the news we want to deliver, meaning Bernama does not discriminate against anyone and ensures information reaches all PwD nationwide,” she said.
She was met when checking on Bernama TV’s operations which started using the services of a sign language interpreter for sports news broadcasts and Bernama Bulletin at Wisma Bernama here, Monday.
Ras Adiba also expressed her appreciation and thanks to the Minister of Communications and Multimedia Saifuddin Abdullah for giving permission in realising the proposal to use the services of sign language interpreters for news broadcasts.
Broadcasting Chief (Bernama TV and Radio) Roslan Ariffin said six members of the Malaysian Federation of the Deaf (MFD) were tasked in rotation with helping to translate the news into sign language.
He said for a start, sign language interpreters were used for live news broadcast for 45 minutes, starting with sports news at 7.45 pm and the Malay Language news edition in the Bernama Bulletin at 8 pm.
“This is a significant innovation after 13 years of Bernama TV operations and this effort is out of concern because so far only Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) has used the services of a sign language interpreter in translating news.
“It will provide wider access to information, especially to the Deaf community to keep abreast of current and domestic news developments,” he said.
— BERNAMA
