An eviction operation in Malaysia’s Sabah earlier this month has rendered hundreds of stateless Bajau Laut homeless. Sabah’s Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Environment, Christina Liew, dismissed allegations by human rights groups that the operation violated international human rights laws. She went on to claim that some residents destroyed their homes for social media attention. Authorities have justified the evictions by citing border security, illegal fishing, and unauthorized construction within the Tun Sakaran Marine Park.
More about Bajau Laut community
The Bajau Laut, a semi-nomadic group within the Sama-Bajau people, traditionally lived across the central and eastern Malay and Sulu Archipelagos. At present, some have claimed citizenship of Malaysia and other neighbouring countries, many are stateless, residing in stilted houses and houseboats along the shores of Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei, and Indonesia.
Malaysia’s race laws complicate statelessness. The concept of Ketuanan Melayu (Malay Supremacy) and various interpretations of Bumiputra (indigenous peoples) create systemic discrimination against non-Bumiputra Malaysians, including the Bajau Laut. Consequently, many Bajau Laut lack access to essential services like healthcare and education.
Organizations like Iskul Sama diLaut Omadal and Borneo Komrad’s Sekolah Alternatif provide someof the only social services to the Bajau Laut. Historical territorial disputes between the Philippines and Malaysia, exacerbated by the dissolution of regional sultanates and colonial rule, have displaced the Bajau Laut, particularly due to ongoing conflicts and insurgencies in the southern Philippines.