Setting aside a marine zone for sea gypsies to help resolve the problem of undocumented street children.

KOTA KINABALU: There will be no end to the issue of undocumented children roaming the streets of Sabah unless practical, long-term approaches are implemented.

Based on profiling efforts, Sabah Welfare Services Department (JPKAS) director Jais Asri said that 99 per cent of these children are sea gypsies or ‘Bajau Laut’ in local dialect. 

They are the stateless communities likely forced out of their native marine habitats.

“These people have historically been found in waters off Sabah, Kudat, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Semporna, the Indonesian islands, the Philippines islands, and even as far as the African coast and the Maldives. 

“They have long relied on the sea for their livelihood. But as their space shrinks due to curfews in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSZone) and the expansion of protected marine parks, where else can they go?” he said in an interview with the New Straits Times.

Esszone, which covers 10 coastal districts, was established in March 2013 following the Lahad Datu intrusion, where armed militants from the southern Philippines invaded Sabah’s east coast, exposing serious security vulnerabilities. 

The zone is to prevent future threats such as cross-border incursions, piracy, and kidnappings. 

Sabah currently has six officially gazetted marine parks under the Sabah Parks Enactment 1984.

Jais said sea gypsies are naturally skilled in deep-sea diving, fishing, and other survival techniques.

“I was once approached by a man seeking help as his wife was giving birth on their boat. After the baby was delivered and the umbilical cord cut, it was thrown into the sea, and the father then bathed the newborn in seawater. I was told it was part of their ritual.

“Perhaps that explains their ability to dive and remain underwater for up to 10 minutes on a single breath,” said Jais, who was previously stationed in Semporna for several years.

He added that many of these children, now in their third generation, can be easily identified by their sun-bleached hair, dialect similar to Bajau Ubian, and confirmation of ties to the sea gypsy community.

Most originate from the waters off Semporna, with some holding identification documents marked “Palauh” issued by the Semporna district chief in the 1990s.

Having been displaced onto land, many resort to begging as a means of survival.

“Alternatively, some men seek work on large fishing vessels, which means being away from their families for months. In their absence, the children are left to help support their mothers and siblings,” he said.

To address the issue, the Sabah government has set up Temporary Protection Centres for non-citizen beggars in Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, Sandakan, and Lahad Datu.

The centre in Kota Kinabalu has taken in 228 children from 2023 to June 2025. Children are placed in isolation for periods ranging from one week to three months.

“There are structured programmes in place for them, including self-care, community living, and informal spiritual education. After this period, they are returned to their parents or guardians under specific conditions,” Jais said.

However, JPKAS faces limitations in facilities, trained personnel, and expertise in providing social and psychological support.

As a result, a six-agency task force was formed, involving JPKAS, the Sabah Affairs and Research Office, local governments, police, immigration, and the Security and Emergency Assistance Agency.

Jais said the department has also been running an awareness initiative called “Kempen Bijak Membantu, Elak Tertipu” statewide to discourage public donations to child beggars.

“Giving money to these children only perpetuates the begging culture and increases the risk of exploitation. Instead, the public should channel donations to legitimate protection centres or non-governmental organisations. 

“They should also report cases of child exploitation or begging syndicates to the police, our department, or the local authorities.”

However, Jais acknowledged that these are only temporary measures. Without proper documentation, sea gypsies and their descendants risk remaining trapped in a cycle of deprivation on land.

He proposed a more sustainable solution, which is allocating marine zones where these communities can return to their traditional way of life.

“There should be no prejudice in dealing with sea gypsies. They deserve to be treated as human beings, just like everyone else.

“Their nomadic existence in Sabah’s waters is part of our cultural richness and should be acknowledged, not erased.”

Ends.

Disclaimer: This story is not carried in the newspapers but it is still a copyright.