Kuala Lumpur:Visually impaired individuals in Malaysia now have the opportunity to learn about endangered forest tree species through a newly launched tactile and Braille book, a collaborative effort by the Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM) and the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the book, titled "Sentuhan Rimba Mengenali Biji Benih Spesies Hutan yang Terancam di Malaysia," was developed under the Touch2Read project. It uses tactile illustrations and Braille to help readers explore the physical characteristics of seeds and the diversity of the country's forest species.

Datuk Dr Ismail Parlan, FRIM director-general, emphasized the initiative's importance in making the nation's forest heritage accessible to all, including the visually impaired. At the book's launch, he noted the necessity of ensuring that visually impaired people can learn about forest plant diversity and identify seed structures through touch.

FRIM contributed to the project by providing actual seed samples to the IIUM Touch2Read team, which were used as references for creating the tactile illustrations. The book highlights seven endangered forest tree species in Malaysia, detailing seed characteristics, botanical information, and the uses of each tree.

Ismail also expressed FRIM's willingness to continue similar collaborations to benefit the visually impaired. He mentioned the potential for future projects, such as Touch2Read 3.0 or 4.0, to further support this community.

During the launch event, visually impaired IIUM students participated in activities at FRIM's Dipterocarp Arboretum, where they learned about plants through touch and smell. Farhan Azkalwafa Sufyan, a 25-year-old student pursuing a degree in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL), highlighted the benefits of such activities in helping visually impaired individuals identify and learn about different trees.

Commemorative posters were distributed to representatives of participating communities, agencies, and strategic partners, including KL Braille Resources Sdn Bhd, Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan (SMK) Pendidikan Khas Setapak, the Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB), the National Library of Malaysia, and Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd.