A doctor’s explanation, a food order, or a simple request for directions can become difficult when communication is not accessible.
Dr Arasu Raman, INTI International University’s Director of Social Impact, delivers the opening speech at the Sign It Loud Fun Run, a student-led initiative organised in collaboration with deaf advocacy organisations.
For many deaf Malaysians, these barriers are part of everyday life. They can affect how a person seeks medical treatment, learns in class, uses public services, or asks for help in ordinary situations.
At INTI International University, these everyday challenges became the starting point for Sign It Loud, a student-led initiative launched through a 3km fun run that drew around 500 participants, including students, academicians, staff members, members of the public, and representatives from the deaf community.
Held under the theme “Run for Inclusion, Sign for Unity,” the fun run marked the first phase of a three-part programme aimed at improving understanding and communication with the deaf community through education, advocacy, and direct engagement.
The scale of the issue also points to why such awareness efforts matter. In 2025, 44,000 hearing loss cases were recorded through Malaysia’s National Otorhinolaryngology Registry, while Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad recently revealed that 21.5% of Malaysians, or around one in five people, experience hearing problems. Separately, advocates for the deaf community believe the actual number of deaf Malaysians could be as high as 172,000, exceeding official registration figures.
Around 500 participants, including students, academicians, staff members, members of the public, and representatives from the deaf community, joined the Sign It Loud Fun Run at INTI International University.
Although these figures refer to different aspects of hearing loss and deafness, they underline the wider need for better awareness, access, and communication support.
Sign It Loud was organised in collaboration with the Malaysian Sign Language and Deaf Studies National Organisation (MyBIM) and the National Organisation of Malaysian Sign Language Instructors (NowBIM).
The project builds on a similar initiative organised last year by INTI International University’s Foundation students as part of their General Studies subject. Encouraged by the response, this year’s student team expanded the idea into a three-phase programme, beginning with the fun run and continuing later this year with a sign language learning initiative and a Community Engagement Day.
Students planned, organised, and managed the project, from stakeholder coordination and logistics to public engagement. The experience allowed them to apply their leadership, communication, and project management skills while working directly with community partners involved in Malaysian Sign Language and deaf advocacy.
Dr Arasu Raman, INTI International University’s Director of Social Impact, said the project shows how student-led initiatives can connect learning with community needs.
“Social impact is not an occasional activity. Since 2025, it is embedded in our institutional purpose,” he said.
He said the fun run should be viewed as the beginning of a longer effort to build understanding, rather than a standalone awareness activity.
“Impactful inclusion requires continuous learning, sustained engagement, and genuine partnerships. The annual Fun Run serves as a flagship awareness platform, but it is only one component of a broader movement to foster understanding and lasting behavioural change,” he said.
INTI Foundation programme students planned, organised, and managed the event as part of a wider effort to promote deaf inclusion, communication access, and social responsibility.
The next phases of Sign It Loud are intended to encourage participants to learn basic Malaysian Sign Language, communicate more inclusively, and better understand the barriers faced by the deaf community.
For the students involved, the project also offered direct exposure to community-based work. By collaborating with MyBIM and NowBIM, they were able to learn from organisations that work closely with the communities the project aims to support.
With the sign language learning initiative and Community Engagement Day set to follow, Sign It Loud will continue as a student-led effort to promote better communication with the deaf community.