The government is urged to take the initiative to create awareness among the Bajau Laut ethnic communities in Sabah who has been living in a nomadic condition, of the importance of having a proper identification and a valid identity document.
Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) lecturer, Dr Zaini Othman said, the Bajau Laut, especially those living on the islands around Semporna does not have any valid documents to be recognized as a Malaysian citizen though have been living in Sabah for a long time .
"In the context where our country is developing and modern, there are still a large number of people who still have no information or awareness to register their child in obtaining proper documents.
"Awareness for them to obtain legal documents is still low or none at all. That is the situation with the Bajau Laut community currently.
"A small number of them are still living a nomadic life. So they have no consciousness.
"This is where the leaders should play an important role. True that they have to live from hand to mouth, but if there is an awareness created by the leaders in helping and uplifting the status of this ethnic, then this is the most important thing to do," said Zaini Astro to Astro AWANI.
The Bajau Laut community originally came from Philippines and continued to stay in Sabah before the formation of Malaysia 50 years ago.
"From the point of culture and history, the Bajau Laut people will say that they are not illegal because they were already there before the formation of Malaysia. That's their argument.
"However, according to state law, if they have no valid documents, they are considered as illegal residents," Zaini added, who is also a political analyst .
Historically, the Muslim community in the Philippines migrated to Sabah during the Moro resistance movement against the Philippine’s government in the late 1970s that led to a war.
Dr Zaini in his opinion said, in terms of culture, The Bajau Laut is considered as Sabahan but unfortunately, they have no valid documentation to prove their citizenship.
"In that context, it is a clash between law and culture. In terms of the law, if a person does not own any legal document then that person is considered to be illegal immigrants even though they were born and raised in Malaysia. So it can be concluded here that they are the undocumented ‘rakyat’," he said.
Dr Zaini added this is where the Bajau Laut community leaders should step in and take note in solving this problem.
"The Bajau Laut community has their own leaders. They should take the initiative to explain this matter and help their own community," Zaini said.
He also hopes the government can play an important role in the welfare and development as the majority of the Bajau Laut is still living in a nomadic life where there is no permanent settlement.
Arfa Yunus
Wed Sep 18 2013
Jangan pilih merengek, sebaliknya berunding bantu rakyat - PM Anwar
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim hari ini menempelak pendirian pemimpin yang memilih merengek dan mencaci usaha kerajaan membantu semua kaum, yang hanya merugikan rakyat.
Misi menamatkan kemarau Piala Thomas di Chengdu diteruskan
Menang besar atau balik, itu situasi menanti pasukan badminton lelaki negara yang berhasrat untuk mengukir nama mereka dalam sejarah.
Break the Siege Freedom: Sampai bila misi ini akan ditangguhkan?
Penangguhan sekali lagi Misi Break the Siege Freedom Flotilla to Gaza terus menimbulkan tanda tanya kepada delegasi terlibat, sampai bila ia akan ditangguhkan.
Sehingga ke saat, rakan setugas Syaff Shukri memaklumkan, belum ada sebarang keputusan daripada Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) berhubung perkara ini.
#AWANI745
#IsraelCuak
Sehingga ke saat, rakan setugas Syaff Shukri memaklumkan, belum ada sebarang keputusan daripada Freedom Flotilla Coalition (FFC) berhubung perkara ini.
#AWANI745
#IsraelCuak
Citra MTDC - Pengukuhan struktur untuk bina ekosistem lebih dinamik
Perbadanan Pembangunan Teknologi Malaysia, MTDC meneruskan kesinambungan dalam memacu pembangunan teknologi negara, dengan melancarkan Citra MTDC, untuk mewujudkan ekosistem inovasi yang lebih dinamik.
#AWANI745
#AWANI745
348 ditahan atas pelbagai kesalahan dadah
Polis menahan 348 individu termasuk 11 wanita dalam Ops Hawk yang dijalankan di seluruh negeri ini selama tiga hari bemula Selasa.
PM Anwar pulangkan elaun Pengerusi Khazanah, tegaskan sekali lagi tidak terima gaji
Anwar berkata beliau memulangkan elaun sebagai pengerusi Khazanah Nasional Berhad yang diterimanya dan sekali lagi menegaskan tidak menerima gaji bagi jawatan Perdana Menteri.
Ringgit ditutup kukuh berbanding dolar AS
Pada 6 petang, ringgit meningkat kepada 4.7650/7710 berbanding dolar AS daripada 4.7745/7775 ketika ditutup pada Khamis.
[TERKINI] Elaun masuk akaun bank tapi saya tak mahu - PM
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim memaklumkan, beliau memulangkan semula elaun diterimanya sebagai Pengerusi Khazanah Nasional Berhad.
Usia Persaraan: KWSP disaran sediakan pinjaman untuk akaun 1 penyimpang
KWSP disaran untuk lebih kreatif bagi membantu penyimpan capai jumlah ideal untuk zaman persaraan, iaitu sekitar RM240,000.
Penganalisis Ekonomi Dr Barjoyai Bardai mencadangkan KWSP pertimbang beri pinjaman untuk akaun 1, dengan syarat ia tidak boleh diganggu.
#AWANI745
Penganalisis Ekonomi Dr Barjoyai Bardai mencadangkan KWSP pertimbang beri pinjaman untuk akaun 1, dengan syarat ia tidak boleh diganggu.
#AWANI745
MoF tiada rekod surat kelulusan Najib
Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur diberitahu, Kementerian Kewangan tidak mempunyai pengetahuan mengenai dua surat kelulusan yang ditandatangani oleh Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak selaku Menteri Kewangan.
#AWANI745
#AWANI745
Belum ada panggilan daripada penculik - Pesuruhjaya Polis Sabah
10 nelayan berkenaan dilaporkan diculik oleh kumpulan bersenjata yang mempunyai kaitan dengan Abu Sayyaf dari dua bot nelayan di perairan Lahad Datu.