Group condemns eviction of Bajau Laut, calls for accountability

 

A rights group has decried the alleged eviction of the Bajau Laut community in Semporna, Sabah, and the destruction of their homes.

Pusat Komas highlighted that such actions underscore the issues surrounding undocumented individuals and questioned their treatment.

This follows claims that the authorities evicted the community and had their stilt houses demolished on June 4 and 5.

Pusat Komas strongly emphasised the need to identify the “authorities” who issued the orders and hold them accountable for their actions.

“The Bajau Laut, who practise a nomadic lifestyle at sea and live in small boats or houses on stilts along the coast or in shallow waters, face systemic discrimination.

“The eviction of the Bajau Laut without adequate consultation or solutions for alternative housing exemplifies a failure to balance development with social justice,” Pusat Komas said in a statement today.

Citing Article 7 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) and Article 8 of the Federal Constitution, the group stressed the importance of ensuring all communities are protected under national and international human rights laws.

Article 7 of the UDHR states that everyone is equal before the law and entitled, without discrimination, to equal protection of the law.

Article 8 of the Federal Constitution ensures that all citizens are afforded equal protection under the law and prohibits discrimination based on religion, race, descent, place of birth, or gender.

Borneo Komrad founder Mukmin Nantang told Malaysiakini that the operation targeted the Bajau Laut community living on islands in Semporna, including Pulau Bohey Dulang, Pulau Maiga, Pulau Bodgaya, Pulau Sebangkat, and Pulau Sibuan.

The NGO has been close to the community, setting up schools for the stateless children to receive basic education.

Avoidance not a solution

With the community facing difficulties voicing their rights and securing protection due to their statelessness, Pusat Komas stressed the importance of addressing their documentation issues.

The group said this would enable the community to receive fair treatment, assert their rights, and access essential services.

Therefore, the group urged local authorities to stop evicting the community and suggested that meaningful engagement with the community be held to find a humane and fair solution.

“The issue of statelessness has plagued the lives of several generations, particularly in the state of Sabah,” it added.

While acknowledging that the issue is filled with complexities and is multifaceted, the group emphasised that avoidance is not a solution.

Pusat Komas added that the federal and state governments must take action to prevent more generations of stateless children in the country.

“Moving people out of their homes only serves to move the problem elsewhere, rather than solving it,” it pointed out. - Mkini