Thread by @Rashidaaah, Do you know about the stateless people in Sabah? I would like [...]

Do you know about the stateless people in Sabah?

I would like to just briefly explain the life of over 60,000 stateless ‘sea gypsy’ Bajau Laut (2018 data) community in Sabah.

@KKCity @sabah_netizen @SABAHtwt

[A thread]

Do you know about the stateless people in Sabah? I would like to just briefly explain the life of over 60,000 stateless ‘sea gypsy’ Bajau Laut (2018 data) community in Sabah. @KKCity @sabah_netizen @SABAHtwt [A thread]

In general, stateless people are not protected by the state & don’t gain basic rights that any citizens should have.

So they have no national identification, not given the rights to education, healthcare & rights to seek assistance if experiencing injustice. -

- Many Bajau Laut fled from Mindanao Civil War in 1970s, and settled across north-eastern Borneo, mainly at Semporna.

Most can only speak Bajau language, stay in houseboats & live on the sea for life. Fishing become their source of income. -

- There’s a certain stereotype about Bajau Laut. They were often looked down & seen as “uncivilised” by the locals on land. This makes them feel uncomfortable & excluded from the larger community. Thus, they opt to stay on the sea.

Also, if they were to walk on land -

-they need to have surat lepa-lepa as a verification of their identity as Bajau Laut. Most Bajau Laut are clueless about this letter.

In 1970s, IMM13 passes & settlement certificates were granted by UNHCR & Sabah gov respectively to the refugees. However, political -

-interventions further complicated the issue. Eventually, refugee status of IMM13 was then revoked.

This made it impossible for Bajau Laut to get a job & secure work permit, they then fallen into statelessness.

They are in constant risk of being -

-captured during police raid since they are considered “illegal immigrants”.

In Sandakan, aside from fishing, some of the Bajau Laut children would be collecting rubbish to be sold. The children don’t have access to proper education since -

-also, similar to their parents, have no citizenship due to the strict prerequisites.

Consequently, many Bajau Laut are trapped in this vicious cycle of statelessness from one generation to another.

Regardless, an effort in education has been made by some community-based -

-schools. Ie. Iskul Sama Dilaut Omadal at Omadal Island that provide basic education.

This is with the hope to at least enable them to communicate with other Malaysians & no longer remain invisible. Also, to prevent from the forming of generation of children -

- that resort to crime.

This is really a complex issue regarding citizenship, I’m not an expert in this matter to give much opinions, but from a humanitarian’s perspective, they should at least deserves basic necessities to be fulfilled without fear of being captured. -

-A Bajau Laut man was asked whether he see himself as Filipino/Indonesian/Malaysian. He then said “Sama, sama - Asli” means “together” & “indigenous”.

He don’t see himself as stateless, instead no country is his. He belongs to the ocean, the world, without borders. -

I find it beautiful. Also contradictorily sad, that we let country borders define who we are when in fact we are all citizens of the world, who deserve to live meaningfully & freely.

I’ve also tweeted my insights about kota kinabalu urban planning