By Olivia Miwil
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah should adopt a comprehensive approach to address long-standing issues affecting the coastal community in Lahad Datu, Datuk Seri Dr Mohammad Yusof Apdal said.
The Warisan assemblyman for Silam said persistent socio-economic and humanitarian challenges involving the community, including homelessness, drug abuse and children begging on the streets, required holistic solutions rather than piecemeal measures.
He said the issue deserved urgent attention to safeguard social stability, security and the economic well-being of local communities.
"Today, we cannot look at the figures presented in the Supplementary Supply and Development Estimates in isolation from the social realities that have long existed before our eyes, particularly in Lahad Datu.
"As the Lahad Datu member of parliament and assemblyman for Silam, I cannot ignore this socio-economic and humanitarian issue that has become a cancer on Sabah's east coast," he said when debating the Supplementary Supply Bill at the Sabah Legislative Assembly today.
Yusof proposed that the government establish transition schools or literacy hubs in collaboration with non-governmental organisations and federal agencies to help break the cycle of poverty and marginalisation.
He said the centres should initially focus on basic literacy, including reading, writing and numeracy, as well as civic education and community values, instead of mainstream academic examinations.
"This will prevent children from roaming the streets of Lahad Datu as beggars while improving the cleanliness, safety and comfort of public spaces for residents," he said.
Yusof also proposed a centralised digital profiling and biometric registration system to be shared among relevant agencies, including the Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) and the Immigration Department.
"We cannot solve the problem of a community that does not exist on paper.
"The first and most critical step for Sabah's security is to know who these people are," he said, adding that the system would help prevent undocumented migrants from using the identity of members of the coastal community to evade enforcement action.
He also suggested establishing dedicated coastal community hubs equipped with basic facilities and mobile healthcare services as part of a controlled resettlement programme.
While acknowledging the community's traditional sea-based lifestyle, Yusof said poor sanitation and public health conditions in existing settlements posed risks of infectious diseases and environmental pollution.
"Controlled settlements would not only facilitate health monitoring, including basic vaccination programmes, but also reduce marine pollution affecting tourism areas and fishing grounds in Lahad Datu," he said.
On drug abuse, Yusof said the government should establish a specialised intervention and rehabilitation centre for coastal communities in collaboration with the National Anti-Drug Agency (NADA).
He said conventional rehabilitation methods might not be suitable for communities with a sea-based lifestyle, proposing nature-based therapy and marine-related physical activities as part of the recovery process.
"We cannot simply arrest and release them back into the same environment. This cycle must be stopped immediately," he said.
Yusof also called for a Coastal Homeless Task Force involving the Lahad Datu District Council, the Social Welfare Department, NADA and Bajau Laut community leaders to conduct regular patrols at urban hotspots.
He said the task force should identify children involved in glue sniffing or drug abuse and immediately refer them to intervention centres.
The Sabah Legislative Assembly adjourns tomorrow.
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