Saifuddin agrees on 'once and for all' solution on Sabah's citizenship issue

PARLIAMENT | Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail emphasised the need for a definitive, “once and for all” solution to address Sabah’s long-standing citizenship issues.

In winding up on the Constitutional (Amendment) Bill 2024, Saifuddin expressed his agreement with several Sabah MPs, including Jeffrey Kitingan (GRS-Keningau), Wilfred Madius Tangau (Harapan-Tuaran), and Shafie Apdal (Warisan-Semporna), who had raised concerns over the matter.

“We need to have clarification about the IIM13 card, or Kad Burung Burung or the census card,” he explained, referring to various identity documents used for registering stateless and undocumented migrants, particularly in East Malaysia.

The Burung Burung card is issued to individuals, especially those from marginalised communities such as the Bajau Laut and Suluk in Sabah. It is often used to signify one’s legal status and residency in Malaysia, particularly for those without formal citizenship documentation.

Saifuddin (above) went on to explain that while the Sabah government has made various efforts to engage with stateless communities, these initiatives have not been widely highlighted.

He cited a land-based settlement where the state government plans to build houses, to accommodate those who wish to move away from life on water.

“For those no longer wanting to earn a living from the sea, the government is collaborating with plantation companies, including Felda Sahabat, to offer them jobs as harvesters. If they are uncomfortable with work at sea or in plantations, they are also offered training in other skills.

“Their children, who are sometimes found by the roadside, are gathered and placed in care homes, with the involvement of two NGOs that provide basic numeracy and personal healthcare education. These initiatives have been implemented but not publicised.

“What was highlighted instead was the burning of Bajau Laut houses, which dominated the media. How unfortunate,” he said.

In June, NGO Borneo Komrad claimed that the authorities had evicted the Bajau Laut community in Semporna, Sabah, and demolished their stilt houses.

In August, at least eight homes on two islands within the Tun Sakaran Marine Park in Semporna were also demolished.

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