SEMPORNA – Around 50 Bajau Laut children from Pulau Omadal, Semporna, wake up early to attend school – just like any other Malaysian child.
However, they are the fortunate few in their community on the island with about 300 children who enjoy the right to education at Iskul Omadal – a school for the stateless established by non-governmental organisation Iskul Sama di-Laut Omadal.
This kind of education, provided by humanitarian organisations, is the only hope for Bajau Laut children to receive an education. Without citizenship, they are barred from attending government schools.
Before attending Iskul Omadal, the Bajau Laut children of Pulau Omadal could barely understand Bahasa Malaysia. Thanks to the school, many can now speak, read, write the language, and perform basic mathematical calculations.
However, due to limited space and lack of funding, Iskul Omadal, which began in 2015, can only accommodate 57 students.
Graduating with honours in empowerment
One Bajau Laut youth, Bilkuin Jimasali, 20, graduated from Iskul Omadal and now teaches there. Bilkuin said the Bajau Laut people who have never received an education are not even aware of their rights to basic life services.
“Our people cannot even tell the time. Because we don’t go to school, most of us cannot do simple math, so we get manipulated when we buy things with money.
“So after I graduated from Iskul Omadal, I realised the importance of education for my community. So I must educate my people for them to survive in this society.
“I truly believe that my people want to seek education,” he said.
Meanwhile, on mainland Semporna, in a settlement called Kg Bangau-Bangau, Bajau Laut children line up to enrol in Sekolah Alternatif, another school for stateless children set up by NGO Borneo Komrad.
After graduating from Sekolah Alternatif, they can opt for Universiti Alternatif, also started by Borneo Komrad this year.
The NGO’s founder Mukmin Nantang started the alternative university after encouraging response from students to give Bajau Laut youths the opportunity for higher education.
“Universiti Alternatif’s focus is for students to explore new knowledge, understand their identity and history, enhance their skills, and think about the future of their people.
“This way, they can become knowledgeable individuals who fight for the rights that have long been ignored,” he said.
Borneo Komrad operates three Sekolah Alternatif in Sabah with about 130 students enrolled, while Universiti Alternatif in Semporna has 26 students.
According to Mukmin, Borneo Komrad’s mission in providing formal education to the Bajau Laut community is to ensure they can defend themselves in a society where they are marginalised and feel like they don’t belong.
“There are children around us who don’t have the chance to receive education. We believe that education is a right for everyone. Everyone should have access to a good education.
“However, in Sabah, we are aware that hundreds of thousands of children do not have this opportunity. As educated individuals, we felt that it was our responsibility to provide them with education so they can have a better future,” he said.
Feeling ‘normal’
Universiti Alternatif student Jai Jericho Omar, 18, said the university has given him confidence, making him feel “normal” – just like other Malaysians.
Growing up, people around him, including his neighbours, would criticise his family for not having citizenship documents, belittling them and accusing them of being illegal immigrants.
“Now, I have a school and a university (just like everyone else). I’m only saddened by (people), who still struggle to accept that we exist, solely because of the lack of documents,” he said.
Jai said he aspired to be an activist like Mukmin, fighting for the rights of the Bajau Laut community to receive education.
The Bajau Laut community has been roaming the waters around the East Coast of Sabah since before Malaysia’s formation.
Many have begun to settle on land, but without citizenship, their access to essential life services – education, healthcare, and employment – remains heavily dependent on civil and humanitarian groups.
Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Mohd Noor has said his government will continue to protect the Bajau Laut, urging locals not to confuse them with undocumented migrants who enter the country illegally.
As stateless persons, the Bajau Laut, also known as Sea Gypsies, are entitled to protection under international law from their host country, he said.
However, the Bajau Laut people, who live among other residents on illegally built structures, regularly risk losing their homes when local authorities demolish their houses. – August 18, 2024
