Tag: Semporna

Society

Sabah’s sea gypsies’ unending citizenship woes

Sabah Insights

Stateless Bajaus Laut remain discriminated as the Borneo state celebrates their culture

Joniston Bangkuai

It is ironic that the culture of a small group of stateless people has become an integral part of Sabah’s heritage and is celebrated with much pageantry every year. The annual Regatta Lepa, a colourful boat race, of the Bajau Laut or sea gypsies will be staged for two days from November 23 for the 29th time in  the southeastern idyllic resort town of Semporna. Yet these nomads, about a few thousands of them, are discriminated and denied Malaysian citizenship. And it begs the question why they remain stateless while their culture has become Malaysian.

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Culture

A regatta overshadows the unending plight of Sabah’s boat people

Sabah Insights

Idyllic Semporna cashes in on the culture of stateless sea gypsies

A Bajau Laut beauty at the Regatta Lepa

For 28 years Sabah has held the annual Regatta Lepa, a culturally colourful boat race of the Bajau Laut, the sea gypsies or nomads. They hailed from the Southern Philippines but have made the waters off the idyllic resort town of Semporna their home. Next month the regatta will be held from 17 to 19. And as Sabah cashes in on their culture, the Bajau Laut are resigned to their plight of a stateless people. Meanwhile local authorities are tasked to clean up the town, ensure that there’s enough water supply, no power cuts and enough rooms for about 50,000 visitors.

Continue reading “A regatta overshadows the unending plight of Sabah’s boat people” →