Visually impaired creatives still struggle to be seen for their skills

Muhammad Iqbal Mazlan, a 37-year-old actor and director, suddenly lost his sight in March 2023 due to a condition called frosted branch angiitis, which was linked to a cytomegalovirus infection. This abrupt loss of his sight halted his career in television, theatre, and film. It took him over a year to recover physically, dealing with complications such as fluid in his lungs. Despite his setback, Iqbal found work again in June 2024 when Art Ornament production company entrusted him to direct "Jay (Buka Langkah)".

Relying on detailed visualization and communication with the cinematographer, Iqbal imagines scenes as if watching a film in a cinema. He then specifies framing, movement, sound, and actor positioning for precise execution. Production company representative Aida Othman expressed her belief in Iqbal's creative capabilities, stating that his value lies in his ability to convey characters, emotions, and messages to the audience.

She highlighted that their decision to give him the directing role was based on his creativity and clear communication, rather than his visual impairment.

Lui Chee Chau, a 46-year-old musician and composer, has also faced challenges due to his visual impairment from infancy. Although he has formal music qualifications and more than a decade of industry experience, he encountered difficulties in finding employment. Employers often made assumptions based on visual impairment and did not fully assess his actual abilities.

Lui now teaches piano and drums part-time and conducts a weekly music class at a local church. Both Iqbal and Lui emphasize that their careers require different methods and more support due to their visual impairment, but their talent and experience remain intact.