Raya money packets promote sign language

SHAH ALAM, 21 Mac -- Mohd Armi Rusli (kanan) dan isteri Nurul Hidayah Abdullah (kiri) bersama anak mereka Naura Aleena Mohd Armi (tengah) bergambar ketika ditemui Bernama. Bagi kebanyakan masyarakat, sampul duit raya yang berwarna-warni dan diisi wang sebagai tanda ingatan dan penghargaan hanyalah pelengkap kepada tradisi Aidilfitri. Namun bagi individu Orang Kurang Upaya (OKU) pendengaran, Mohd Armi, 43, setiap sampul mempunyai potensi besar sebagai medium pendidikan dan kesedaran. Mohd Armi yang merupakan pengasas #SignOn yang menawarkan program pembelajaran Bahasa Isyarat Malaysia (BIM) secara percuma, tampil dengan inisiatif menghasilkan sampul duit raya memaparkan cetakan asas abjad dan nombor dalam BIM. -- fotoBERNAMA (2026) HAK CIPTA TERPELIHARA

For many, sampul duit raya (money packets) are typically associated with being filled with money as a token of goodwill, and as part of the Aidilfitri tradition.

However, Mohd Armi Rusli, 43, who is hearing-impaired, saw the potential for each packet to be used as a medium for education and awareness.

Mohd Armi, founder of the #SignOn programme that offers free Malaysian Sign Language (BIM) learning course, came up with an initiative to produce money packets printed with alphabets and numbers in BIM.

He said the idea came about during Ramadan last year, when he was thinking of a more relaxed approach to introducing sign language to the public, especially children.

“Every festive season, children receive sampul duit raya, so this is an opportunity for us to introduce BIM to them.

“In fact, adults who receive these packets will be excited to learn as well.

“The main message of this initiative is to highlight that the deaf community has their own language.

“And by introducing the basic alphabet and numbers, those who receive the packets can try practising signing in BIM,” he told Bernama.

The packets feature hand symbols for the letters A to Z as well as the numbers from one to 10.

Mohd Armi described these as the basic components for communicating in sign language.

He observed that there was a communication gap between the deaf community and the public, and attributed this to the lack of exposure to sign language.

He hopes that the Raya money packets will spark conversations when family members and friends gather during the festive season.

He added that he was hopeful the envelopes would encourage the public to learn the basics of BIM.

Mohd Armi said his graphic design team had previously produced T-shirts, posters and pamphlets featuring BIM alphabet and numbers, before adapting them for Raya money packets.

He said this year had seen a significant increase in sales, with 30,000 packets printed, three times more than last year.

“They are priced at RM8 per pack of 10 envelopes,” he said.

He expressed hope that corporate organisations would purchase the packets for distribution to staff or customers to spread knowledge of BIM.

Mohd Armi said that part of the proceeds from the sales would be channelled to support free sign language classes, organised throughout the year.

He said it was his yearly routine to give duit raya to children who attend these free classes during the month of Syawal.

“I hope that both the giver and the recipient will gain basic knowledge of sign language, and teach it to the whole family during the festive season,” he added.