Two experts have expressed support for former Sabah president Shafie Apdal’s call to reinstate the Temporary Sabah Pass (PSS) for the stateless Bajau Laut community, but warned against the dangers of not having strong legal rights.
Roger Chin, the former president of the Sabah Law Society, said that PSS can provide the community with formal employment, thereby reducing poverty and dependence on illegal living. “(PSS) has the potential (for Bajau Laut) to become part of the traditional economy, giving the opportunity to combine their unique skills of the water in the area such as tourism and water conservation.
Such participation can also help Sabah solve the labor shortage, especially in sectors where Bajau Laut has important expertise, he told FMT.
However, according to Chin, PSS should only be a temporary solution as it does not solve the problem of statelessness. Communities remain vulnerable to exploitation and discrimination without a clear path to permanent settlement, he added. Chin said strong security measures are necessary to avoid exploitation. He added that these commitments must cover the extent of human rights, education and professional training, and access to basic services. He raised concerns about potential resistance from locals and those interested in seeing Bajau Laut as foreigners, saying the PSS could be used as a way to enter Malaysia illegally. , rather than a solution to human problems.
Chin insisted that careful messaging and clear policies are important to reduce anxiety and promote support. “How the people of Sabah will accept the PSS depends to a large extent on how it is presented and implemented.
It is important to emphasize that it will not undermine the rights of Sabahans or reduce their access to property, but will provide a coordinated solution to the long-term problem of statelessness and contribute positively and the economy of the state through the integration of the country. Bajau Laut,” he said. In September 2019, the then Minister of Interior Muhyiddin Yassin and Shafie, the former president of the state, proposed to implement the PSS from June 1, 2020. This proposal has been abandoned due to the backlash from in the hands of the community that saw Shafie’s party, Warisan, win. in the Kimanis election in January 2020. Wong Kueng Hui
Wong Kueng Hui.
Wong Kueng Hui, activist and head of Mandiri Borneo, supports the PSS reform plan, saying it will also provide health care, education and security to the people of Bajau Laut. PSS will help the Bajau Laut to live legally with dignity and respect, which means they will not live in fear of arbitrary detention and will be able to find suitable jobs to support themselves, Wong told FMT .
Wong, who was stateless until the age of 27, said the stateless, who live in fear and despair, should be allowed to live in peace and contribute to the country. . He cited the “cost of statelessness”, a study conducted by Subang MP Wong Chen in 2019, which found that Sabah’s GDP could increase by RM32 billion annually if stateless people had access to public education and legal services. .
Mandiri Borneo is looking forward to the completion of PSS. We are ready to be a partner of the government to ensure its successful implementation, he said.
