Sabah's Bajau Laut Community Ready To Embrace Development
http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v5/newsindex.php?id=315473
By Haslin Gaffor
SEMPORNA, Feb 22 (Bernama) -- At one time, Imai Ulaiman,
50, used to live on his boat at sea but now has
resettled on terra firma along with his family at Pulau
Bodgaya.
In spite of the initial apprehensions, Imai still went
ahead with his decision to end his nomadic lifestyle on
the boat with the direction literally set by the winds.
This was the typical life of the Bajau Laut or the
Pala'u community who are known as the sea-farers of
Sabah.
But what prompted Imai to take the plunge, he told the
writer through an interpreter, it is to embrace
development for the sake of his future generations.
Imai's family is among the 30 odd families living in the
settlement and the sea is still close to their heart.
Their house stands on the sea and the boat still serves
them as their main transport mode. The Bajau Laut's
change in lifestyle has helped the government and the
non-governmental organisations to channel assistance,
especially employment opportunities based on marine
resources.
SOSIO-ECONOMY PROJECTS
Imai made the right decision because he will be among
the settlers to partake in a seaweed culture project
under the Semporna Island's Darwin Project meant to
improve their socio-economic standing.
Under this project, the participants are provided
equipment and the know-how in implementing the seaweed
culture project.
The Semporna Island's Darwin Project is an initiative to
rope in the local community to preserve the marine life
especially the corals at the Tun Sakaran Marine Park.
The project took off in 1998 and maintained by the
Marine Preservation Organisation with the cooperation of
Sabah Parks to preserve the biodiversity around the park
by encouraging the sustainable use of the marine
resources.
Imai said he is eager to get on with the seaweed culture
as it promises regular income for the family.
"At present, we live on the catch and coconuts collected
from nearby islands. I want to change my present way of
life so that my coming generations can enjoy development
and they can go to school," said Imai who only speaks in
his native language.
Imai lives with his wife, children and grandchildren in
two adjoining houses, and the houses are cramped as 15
people are living in them.
NO REGULAR INCOME
The dwellers in the island don't have steady source of
income and valuable catch like shrimps and fishes are
sold to fishermen or bartered for rice or clothes.
Many from the Pala'u ethnicity still hold strongly to
their traditional ways with most without identification
documents or formal education. They speak only in their
mother-tongue.
Another member of the community who is also seeking the
winds of change is Injalmani Masewani, 50, who is also
eager to participate in the Semporna Island Darwin
Project.
"I cant wait to get on with this project as it promises
a bright future for the whole family and free us from
the shackles of poverty," said the father of nine.
MIGRATING TO LAND
It is estimated that at present there are only about 150
Pala'u families in the district who still live on boats.
The major Pala'u settlements in this district is at
Kampung Labuan Haji, Pulau Bum-Bum and Kampung
Bangau-Bangau. Many live in homes built under the
Hardcore Poor Housing Programme.
The Bajau Laut community in Pulau Bodgaya has been
offered the seaweed culture project as it has proven
successful in several coastal districts.
The seaweed culture activity is a viable income
generator for the locals and is helping to enhance
Semporna district's economy as the leading seaweed
producer in Sabah. In this district the seaweed culture
project has already been implemented in Pulau Selakan,
Kerindingan, Bum-Bum, Sebangkat, Sibuan, Pababag and
Omadal.
The project has transformed the lives of the settlers in
the village and they are now no longer left out from
development.
-- BERNAMA
