We stand in solidarity with the stateless Bajau Laut community, whose homes and boats on small islands in Sabah have been demolished. We are deeply concerned for the vulnerable children, women, and men left without shelter and food.

We recognise the Bajau Laut’s long-standing presence in the Sulu and Sulawesi Seas as sea nomads. Their ancestors have roamed these waters for generations, practicing subsistence fishing, collecting sea products and contributing to the local economy.

Historical records, such as those of Spenser St John and Verschuer in 1862, document encounters with nomadic Bajaus in the north and northeast coast of Borneo (Sabah) (i). Similarly, 19th-century accounts by Crawfurd mention nomadic Bajaus visiting all parts of North Borneo (present day Sabah), including areas around the Malawali and surrounding islands in Sabah (ii). 

These historical ties extend to the Sulu and Celebes regions, with the Bajau Laut found near offshore islands like Bum-Bum and Pulau Mabul in Sabah (iii) (iv). Notably, Dewall’s 1849 report documented seasonal movements of Bajau boats over significant distances, highlighting their mobility (iii). This aligns with earlier accounts by Captain Thomas Forrest in 1774. During his voyage along the eastern Borneo coast, he met a group of maritime nomads he called ‘Badjoo’ described as ‘a kind of itinerant fishermen’ living on boats. He also documented their presence in Sulawesi and Sulu, further solidifying their historical presence across the region (v).

In light of this urgent situation, we plead with the authorities to establish a special task force focused on the Bajau Laut community. This task force should address the following objectives:

• Conduct a comprehensive historical study on the Bajau Laut community in the region (to provide context for the situation)
• Initiate discussions with the Philippines and Indonesia to develop a collaborative approach to safeguard and protect the Bajau Laut as the indigenous people of the Sulu and Sulawesi Seas. (This is a shared heritage between the 3 countries hence collaborative efforts are imminent)
• Organise stakeholder consultations with the affected communities, facilitated by relevant NGOs working in the ground.(This ensures the voices of those directly impacted are heard.)

Iskul Sama diLaut Omadal

6 June 2024

References:

(i) The few nomadic Bajau’s encountered by Spenser St. John and by Verschuer (St. John, 1862, v. 2, pp. 231-2, Verschuer, 1883, p. 4), in sheltered bays on the north and northeast coast of Borneo reacted to their approach with characteristic apprehension, trying to conceal themselves in the mangrove creeks, and on one occasion taking to the woods and abandoning their boats. (The Sea Nomad, Sopher, 1965 pg 116)

(ii) “During the nineteenth century, nomadic Bajaus probably visited all parts of the North Borneo coast at one time or another. Crawfurd, for example, says that some of the boat population of Brunei consisted of “nomadic Bajau Malays” (Crawfurd, 1856, p. 69). However, the chief collecting grounds and resting places of the sea nomads were and still are the offshore islands. In 1938, Balambangan and Banggi Islands, north of Marudu Bay, were inhabited by a few sedentary Bajau or Orang Sarna fishermen, while the nomadic Bajaus were to be found chiefly around Malawali and the smaller islands to the south” (The Sea Nomad, Sopher, 1965 pg 118-119)

(iii) “On the east coast of Borneo, nomadic Bajaus having ties with the Sulu groups as well as the Celebes groups, and particularly with Makas­sar, were found, principally in the vicinity of the small reef-fringed off­shore islands, like Bum-Bum and Pulau Mabul opposite Simporna in North Borneo, Bunyu near the mouths of the Sembakung and Sesayap, Pulau Panjang opposite the town of Tanjung Batu, the small island of Buaya-Buaya off Batu Putih, and some distance out to sea, the Maratua and Sambit clusters. In 1849, Dewall reported a seasonal move­ment of one group of Bajau boats from the islands near Simporna to the Tanjung Batu area, a distance of 150 miles. In addition there was a local group making this area near the delta of the Kelai their base, sup­plying the local ruler with tripang and dried fish in return for cloth and rice (Dewall, 1855, p. 446)”.(The Sea Nomad, Sopher, 1965 pg 118-119)

(iv)“Based on the history, the story on the Bajau people living in boats along Sabah coast (Sulu Sea) has existed since the Sulu Sultanate era.” (“Since Birth Till Death, What is Their Status: A Case Study of the Sea Bajau in Pulau Mabul, Semporna” Ismail Ali, Pg 158)

(v) “In Borneo, early use of ‘Bajau’ appears in English in the writing of Captain Thomas Forrest, who, in 1774, sailed along the eastern Borneo coast, from Balambangan at the northern tip of present-day Sabah, to the islands east of Sulawesi. At points along the east coast of Borneo, Forrest met with groups of maritime nomads whom he called ‘Badjoo’ and described as ‘a kind of itinerant fishermen’ who ‘live chiefly in small covered boats’ (Forrest, 1780; 372). Later, he encountered additional ‘Badjoo’ in Sulawesi, and again in Sulu on a subsequent voyage from” (The Bajau Laut: Adaptation, history, and fate in a maritime fishing society of south-eastern Sabah.​ Kuala Lumpur : Oxford University Press. Clifford Sather. 1997, Pg 6)

Kami berdiri dalam solidariti bersama komuniti Bajau Laut, yang rumah dan bot mereka di pulau-pulau kecil di Sabah telah dirobohkan dan dimusnahkan. Kami sangat prihatin terhadap kanak-kanak, wanita, dan lelaki yang rentan, yang kini tidak mempunyai tempat tinggal dan keperluan makanan.

Kami mengakui kehadiran lama Bajau Laut di Lautan Sulu dan Sulawesi sebagai nomad laut. Nenek moyang mereka telah mengembara di perairan ini selama beberapa generasi, menjalankan aktiviti perikanan subsisten, mengumpul hasil laut dan menyumbang kepada ekonomi tempatan.

Rekod sejarah, seperti yang didokumentasikan oleh Spenser St John dan Verschuer pada tahun 1862, mencatatkan pertemuan dengan Bajau nomad di pantai utara dan timur laut Borneo (Sabah) (i). Begitu juga, catatan abad ke-19 oleh Crawfurd menyebutkan Bajau nomad yang melawat semua bahagian Borneo Utara (Sabah masa kini), termasuk kawasan sekitar Malawali dan pulau-pulau sekitar di Sabah (ii).

Ikatan sejarah ini meluas ke kawasan Sulu dan Celebes, dengan Bajau Laut ditemui berhampiran pulau-pulau luar pesisir seperti Pulau Bum-Bum dan Pulau Mabul di Sabah (iii) (iv). Secara khusus, laporan Dewall pada tahun 1849 mendokumentasikan pergerakan bermusim bot Bajau meliputi jarak yang jauh, menunjukkan mobiliti mereka (iii). Ini selaras dengan catatan awal oleh Kapten Thomas Forrest pada tahun 1774. Semasa pelayarannya di sepanjang pantai timur Borneo, beliau bertemu sekumpulan nomad maritim yang dipanggilnya “Badjoo,” yang digambarkan sebagai “sejenis nelayan pengembara” yang tinggal di atas bot. Beliau juga mendokumentasikan kehadiran mereka di Laut Sulawesi dan Sulu, mengukuhkan lagi kehadiran sejarah mereka di seluruh rantau ini (v).

Berikutan situasi mendesak ini, kami merayu kepada pihak berkuasa untuk menubuhkan satu jawatankuasa khas yang memberi tumpuan kepada komuniti Bajau Laut dengan 3 objektif berikut:

1.Melakukan kajian sejarah yang komprehensif mengenai komuniti Bajau Laut di rantau ini (untuk memberikan konteks kepada situasi ini)

2.Memulakan perbincangan dengan Filipina dan Indonesia untuk membangunkan pendekatan kerjasama bagi melindungi dan melindungi Bajau Laut sebagai orang asli Laut Sulu dan Sulawesi. (Ini adalah warisan bersama antara 3 negara maka usaha kerjasama adalah penting)

3.Menganjurkan rundingan dengan pihak berkepentingan dari komuniti yang terjejas, dengan bantuan NGO yang relevan yang bekerja di lapangan.(Ini memastikan suara mereka yang terjejas secara langsung didengar.)

Rujukan:

(i) The few nomadic Bajaus encountered by Spenser St. John and by Verschuer (St. John, 1862, v. 2, pp. 231-2, Verschuer, 1883, p. 4), in sheltered bays on the north and northeast coast of Borneo reacted to their approach with characteristic apprehension, trying to conceal themselves in the mangrove creeks, and on one occasion taking to the woods and abandoning their boats. (The Sea Nomad, Sopher, 1965 pg 116)

(ii) “During the nineteenth century, nomadic Bajaus probably visited all parts of the North Borneo coast at one time or another. Crawfurd, for example, says that some of the boat population of Brunei consisted of “nomadic Bajau Malays” (Crawfurd, 1856, p. 69). However, the chief collecting grounds and resting places of the sea nomads were and still are the offshore islands. In 1938, Balambangan and Banggi Islands, north of Marudu Bay, were inhabited by a few sedentary Bajau or Orang Sarna fishermen, while the nomadic Bajaus were to be found chiefly around Malawali and the smaller islands to the south” (The Sea Nomad, Sopher, 1965 pg 118-119)

(iii) “On the east coast of Borneo, nomadic Bajaus having ties with the Sulu groups as well as the Celebes groups, and particularly with Makas­sar, were found, principally in the vicinity of the small reef-fringed off­shore islands, like Bum-Bum and Pulau Mabul opposite Simporna in North Borneo, Bunyu near the mouths of the Sembakung and Sesayap, Pulau Panjang opposite the town of Tanjung Batu, the small island of Buaya-Buaya off Batu Putih, and some distance out to sea, the Maratua and Sambit clusters. In 1849, Dewall reported a seasonal move­ment of one group of Bajau boats from the islands near Simporna to the Tanjung Batu area, a distance of 150 miles. In addition there was a local group making this area near the delta of the Kelai their base, sup­plying the local ruler with tripang and dried fish in return for cloth and rice (Dewall, 1855, p. 446)”.(The Sea Nomad, Sopher, 1965 pg 118-119)

(iv)“Based on the history, the story on the Bajau people living in boats along Sabah coast (Sulu Sea) has existed since the Sulu Sultanate era.” (“Since Birth Till Death, What is Their Status: A Case Study of the Sea Bajau in Pulau Mabul, Semporna” Ismail Ali, Pg 158)

(v) “In Borneo, early use of ‘Bajau’ appears in English in the writing of Captain Thomas Forrest, who, in 1774, sailed along the eastern Borneo coast, from Balambangan at the northern tip of present-day Sabah, to the islands east of Sulawesi. At points along the east coast of Borneo, Forrest met with groups of maritime nomads whom he called ‘Badjoo’ and described as ‘a kind of itinerant fishermen’ who ‘live chiefly in small covered boats’ (Forrest, 1780; 372). Later, he encountered additional ‘Badjoo’ in Sulawesi, and again in Sulu on a subsequent voyage from” (The Bajau Laut: Adaptation, history, and fate in a maritime fishing society of south-eastern Sabah.​ Kuala Lumpur : Oxford University Press. Clifford Sather. 1997, Pg 6)