KOTA KINABALU – Civil societies in Sabah have urged the state and the police to launch an investigation and take action on the crocodile attack incident involving a Palauh (sea gypsies) father and son in Lahad Datu.
In a joint statement yesterday, the CSO Platform for Reform (Sabah chapter) said there were contradicting details between official media reports and a video that had gone viral on social media which indicated that the victims were escaping the authorities at the time of the incident last Thursday (December 1).
They urged further and in-depth investigations into this case for the father’s rights and justice for his son.
“All the relevant authorities should take action to ensure children no longer live in fear of the authorities due to the discrimination towards them as non-citizens in Malaysia,” the group said.
The CSO Platform for Reform (Sabah chapter) is part of the CSO Platform for Reform, a coalition of 100 CSOs, based in Malaysia, focusing on institutional reforms.
Last Thursday, the Fire and Rescue Department reported that a one-year-old boy was missing while his father was injured when they were attacked by a crocodile near the marine base in Lahad Datu.
But the statement mentioned that the victims were rowing a boat at the time of the incident, and did not state that they were escaping law enforcement officers.
Aside from police investigations, the group also urged the Sabah government to implement mechanisms to solve the issue of statelessness and undocumented persons, respecting their rights and human dignity.
“The state should also reevaluate the functions of the state’s current law-keeping mechanisms, to ensure they cause no undue harm, especially to those who cannot protect themselves.
“Exercise the state’s duty to protect all children as per the Convention on the Rights of the Child; engage proactively with NGOs and advocates who work closely with the marginalised communities,” they said.
The group also wants the Sabah Social Welfare Department to ensure the wellbeing and safety of the injured father.
Yesterday, The Vibes reported that the injured father, Morehat, 45, shared in a Facebook live video that he was fleeing the authorities at the Lahad Datu market when he jumped into the sea with his son and got attacked by a crocodile.
A video that had gone viral on social media had also stirred anger here, as the person recording it can be heard saying in a mix of Bahasa Malaysia and Bajau: “Who asked you to run? Now you’ve been attacked by a crocodile” and “Who cares?” while Morehat expresses anguish.
A volunteer teacher, Jefry Musa, who teaches at a school for stateless children in Semporna, told The Vibes that the video showed how the sea-gypsies community can be treated inhumanely by locals and has been threatened and intimidated by the authorities for years.
The Bajau Laut or sea gypsies, locally called the Palauh, are seafaring nomads who traditionally live in boats on the sea most of their lives.
The CSO Platform for Reform (Sabah chapter)’s statement was supported by 18 civil societies, including Advocates for Non-Discrimination and Access To Knowledge, Sabah Human Rights Centre, Society For Equality, Respect And Trust For All Sabah, Borneo Komrad, among others.
“As a platform for civil society organisations working on institutional reform, we demand an end to the injustice towards the community, especially the children. All children need to be able to live a carefree life as children, play, learn, and develop themselves to their full potential,” they added.
Morehat who is from Semporna is still in Lahad Datu waiting for news on his son from the Search and Rescue Operation that is currently still ongoing. – The Vibes, December 3, 2022
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