SEMPORNA: Non-governmental organisations and concerned citizens have helped educate stateless children across Sabah for five years now.
Schools have been established on islands, such as Pulau Mabul, in the east coast districts of Semporna, Kunak and Lahad Datu to teach children, mostly those who belong to the Palau community of the “Sea Gypsies”.
A businessman, who declined to be named, said a school established five years ago on Mabul, a popular dive site, had provided education for many of the children.
“Even foreign tourists come and teach the children sometimes.”
In Kota Kinabalu, a group of students from Universiti Malaysia Sabah had taught stateless children near the central market for several months last year, but were stopped by the local authorities three months ago.
Volunteer Naim Fahmi, 23, from Terengganu, said: “The City Hall and state National Security Council told us that they will set up a more suitable location for our sessions.”
Sabah National Security Council director Datuk Rodzi Md Saad said the council had a policy that ensured all stateless children detained at temporary detention centres in the state were provided basic knowledge and civic education.
“There are officers, including those from the United Nations Children’s Fund, who come to the centre to teach them