Learn the difference between stateless and undocumented, says MP

Kota Belud MP Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis has called for close collaboration between the federal and Sabah governments to address the Bajau Laut issue. (Bernama pic)

KUALA LUMPUR: The public must understand the distinction between undocumented migrants (Pati) and stateless individuals in light of the recent controversy on the eviction of the indigenous Bajau Laut community from their illegal settlements last month, says a Warisan MP.

Isnaraissah Munirah Majilis (Warisan-Kota Belud) said leaders should educate the people about these differences.

“Pati refers to undocumented immigrants who enter a country without proper documentation and through improper channels, while stateless individuals are those without citizenship,” she said when debating the Suhakam report in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Backing recent statements by Sabah deputy chief minister Jeffrey Kitingan and Warisan president Shafie Apdal about the Bajau Laut, Isnaraissah called for more open discussions on citizenship issues despite their contentious nature.

“The discussion on this sensitive topic (Bajau Laut) involving these two figures (Kitingan and Shafie) is a good start because citizenship issues are so sensitive that sometimes, no politician in Sabah wants to talk about it,” she said.

“I really hope we embrace this issue. We can differ in terms of ideology or approach, but there are issues that we need to discuss and tackle together.

“Otherwise, this issue will never be resolved. We can argue about how to manage it, but we have to start the discussion.”

Yesterday, FMT reported Kitingan as saying that the Bajau Laut should not be deemed as stateless people since they have resided in Malaysia for centuries.

Shafie, on the other hand, said the estimated 100,000 Bajau Laut in Sabah were part and parcel of the naturalised ethnic groups in the Bornean state, despite many of them lacking identity documents.

Both Sabahan leaders said the government must make a serious effort to issue proper identity papers.

The plight of the Bajau Laut entered the spotlight after 138 illegal settlements set up by the community were torn down last month, in an operation which appeared to target those living on seven islands in the region.

Videos of the evictions went viral, showing enforcement officers demolishing and burning homes.

In the Dewan Rakyat, Isnaraissah also called for close collaboration between the federal and Sabah governments to address the Bajau Laut issue.

“(They must find) a balanced approach between protecting the human rights of these communities and national security,” she said.

Isnaraissah also recommended that Suhakam organise more open discussions and forums in Sabah involving community representatives, Sabah leaders, and experts.

“I am sure this will yield good results in creating a more harmonious and united Sabah,” she said.