# data[].attributes.body
There are 128 learning centres providing education for over 12,000 Bajau Laut and other marginalised children who do not have access to government schools.
✿ This learning centre has given them a hope for a better future as later on they can find employment in shops, restaurants or as tour guides.

# data[].attributes.body
** In the Bajau community, many traditional fishing methods are still used, and equipment is still mostly only wooden goggles

** Many households do not have a boat with engine and use only paddle and sails

** Also women are fishing and many of them do regularly dive for seashell, trepang and clams in shallow waters

** One common fishing method is called “ngambaj” in which several fishing boats gather and use nets to surround coral fish while others hits the    water and try to chase the fish against the net
 
** They are also using harpoons to spear bigger fish surrounded by the nets. This fishing method is also used in the Philippines and Malaysia.

** Typically, this activity is applicable for Bajau people who live near to sea, as known as Laut Bajau

# data[].attributes.body
- Slowly progressing

⦁  Most of the Bajau people find it normal to be excluded from the education system.

⦁  Since born, the Bajau children who live in plantation area ( West Coast Bajau ) & sea area ( East Coast Bajau ) are without access to basic education due to :

➳  Legal status (stateless, no

birth certificate as they have a

traditional nomadic life ; seafarers )

not able to attend government

school )

➳Distance ( remote/sea area  )

➳ Poverty ( very low income )

✨Opportunity ✨

✿ Since 1996, Humana Child Aid Society Sabah has been providing primary/ basic education ( reading, writing, simple calculation ) for these stateless children. Their objective is to provide education, in accordance with the UN’s Child Rights Convention, via learning centres for vulnerable groups of children in remote areas of Sabah who do not have access to school.

✿There are 128 learning centres providing education for over 12,000 Bajau Laut and other marginalised children who do not have access to government schools.

✿ This learning centre has given them a hope for a better future as later on they can find employment in shops, restaurants or as tour guides.

- There are also other similar non-profit organisation that provide free learning centres to Bajau children :

• Borneo Child Aid /PKPKM (Persatuan Kebajikan Pendidikan Kanak-Kanak Miskin)

ADVANTAGE

-The children are kept away from life on the streets which often leads them to glue sniffing and criminal activities.

- Education also helps in improving discipline in children ( they are so used to having freedom since born ;  children as young as four catch fish, octopus and lobsters from handmade boats  )

"The illiteracy should stop at our generation: we don't want our children to stay on boats like us."

# data[].attributes.body
- Slowly progressing
⦁  Most of the Bajau people find it normal to be excluded from the education system.
 ⦁  Since born, the Bajau children who live in plantation area ( West Coast Bajau ) & sea area ( East Coast Bajau ) are without access to basic education due to :

➳  Legal status (stateless, no  
      birth certificate as they have a 
      traditional nomadic life ; seafarers ) 
      not able to attend government 
      school )
➳Distance ( remote/sea area  )      
➳ Poverty ( very low income )  

                ✨Opportunity ✨

 ✿ Since 1996, Humana Child Aid Society Sabah has been providing primary/ basic education ( reading, writing, simple calculation ) for these stateless children. Their objective is to provide education, in accordance with the UN’s Child Rights Convention, via learning centres for vulnerable groups of children in remote areas of Sabah who do not have access to school.

✿There are 128 learning centres providing education for over 12,000 Bajau Laut and other marginalised children who do not have access to government schools.
✿ This learning centre has given them a hope for a better future as later on they can find employment in shops, restaurants or as tour guides. 

 
- There are also other similar non-profit organisation that provide free learning centres to Bajau children : 
  • Borneo Child Aid /PKPKM (Persatuan Kebajikan Pendidikan Kanak-Kanak Miskin)
                     
                      ADVANTAGE 
-The children are kept away from life on the streets which often leads them to glue sniffing and criminal activities. 
- Education also helps in improving discipline in children ( they are so used to having freedom since born ;  children as young as four catch fish, octopus and lobsters from handmade boats  )

"The illiteracy should stop at our generation: we don't want our children to stay on boats like us." 

# data[].attributes.body
- Slowly progressing
⦁  Most of the Bajau people find it normal to be excluded from the education system.
 ⦁  Since born, the Bajau children who live in plantation area ( West Coast Bajau ) & sea area ( East Coast Bajau ) are without access to basic education due to :

➳  Legal status (stateless, no  
      birth certificate as they have a 
      traditional nomadic life ; seafarers ) 
      not able to attend government 
      school )
➳Distance ( remote/sea area  )      
➳ Poverty ( very low income )  

                ✨Opportunity ✨

 ✿ Since 1996, Humana Child Aid Society Sabah has been providing primary/ basic education ( reading, writing, simple calculation ) for these stateless children. Their objective is to provide education, in accordance with the UN’s Child Rights Convention, via learning centres for vulnerable groups of children in remote areas of Sabah who do not have access to school.

✿There are 128 learning centres providing education for over 12,000 Bajau Laut and other marginalised children who do not have access to government schools.
✿ This learning centre has given them a hope for a better future as later on they can find employment in shops, restaurants or as tour guides. 

 
- There are also other similar non-profit organisation that provide free learning centres to Bajau children : 
  • Borneo Child Aid /PKPKM (Persatuan Kebajikan Pendidikan Kanak-Kanak Miskin)
                     
                      ADVANTAGE 
-The children are kept away from life on the streets which often leads them to glue sniffing and criminal activities. 
- Education also helps in improving discipline in children ( they are so used to having freedom since born ;  children as young as four catch fish, octopus and lobsters from handmade boats  )

"The illiteracy should stop at our generation: we don't want our children to stay on boats like us." 

# data[].attributes.body
- Slowly progressing
⦁  Most of the Bajau people find it normal to be excluded from the education system.
 ⦁  Since born, the Bajau children who live in plantation area ( West Coast Bajau ) & sea area ( East Coast Bajau ) are without access to basic education due to :

➳  Legal status (stateless, no  
      birth certificate as they have a 
      traditional nomadic life ; seafarers ) 
      not able to attend government 
      school )
➳Distance ( remote/sea area  )      
➳ Poverty ( very low income )  

                ✨Opportunity ✨

 ✿ Since 1996, Humana Child Aid Society Sabah has been providing primary/ basic education ( reading, writing, simple calculation ) for these stateless children. Their objective is to provide education, in accordance with the UN’s Child Rights Convention, via learning centres for vulnerable groups of children in remote areas of Sabah who do not have access to school.

✿There are 128 learning centres providing education for over 12,000 Bajau Laut and other marginalised children who do not have access to government schools.
✿ This learning centre has given them a hope for a better future as later on they can find employment in shops, restaurants or as tour guides. 

 
- There are also other similar non-profit organisation that provide free learning centres to Bajau children : 
  • Borneo Child Aid /PKPKM (Persatuan Kebajikan Pendidikan Kanak-Kanak Miskin)
                     
                      ADVANTAGE 
-The children are kept away from life on the streets which often leads them to glue sniffing and criminal activities. 
- Education also helps in improving discipline in children ( they are so used to having freedom since born ;  children as young as four catch fish, octopus and lobsters from handmade boats  )

"The illiteracy should stop at our generation: we don't want our children to stay on boats like us." 

# data[].attributes.body
- Slowly progressing
⦁  Most of the Bajau people find it normal to be excluded from the education system.
 ⦁  Since born, the Bajau children who live in plantation area ( West Coast Bajau ) & sea area ( East Coast Bajau ) are without access to basic education due to :

➳  Legal status (stateless, no  
      birth certificate as they have a 
      traditional nomadic life ; seafarers ) 
      not able to attend government 
      school )
➳Distance ( remote/sea area  )      
➳ Poverty ( very low income )  

                ✨Opportunity ✨

 ✿ Since 1996, Humana Child Aid Society Sabah has been providing primary/ basic education ( reading, writing, simple calculation ) for these stateless children. Their objective is to provide education, in accordance with the UN’s Child Rights Convention, via learning centres for vulnerable groups of children in remote areas of Sabah who do not have access to school.

✿There are 128 learning centres providing education for over 12,000 Bajau Laut and other marginalised children who do not have access to government schools.
✿ This learning centre has given them a hope for a better future as later on they can find employment in shops, restaurants or as tour guides. 

 
- There are also other similar non-profit organisation that provide free learning centres to Bajau children : 
  • Borneo Child Aid /PKPKM (Persatuan Kebajikan Pendidikan Kanak-Kanak Miskin)
                     
                      ADVANTAGE 
-The children are kept away from life on the streets which often leads them to glue sniffing and criminal activities. 
- Education also helps in improving discipline in children ( they are so used to having freedom since born ;  children as young as four catch fish, octopus and lobsters from handmade boats  )

"The illiteracy should stop at our generation: we don't want our children to stay on boats like us." 

# data[].attributes.body
- Slowly progressing
⦁  Most of the Bajau people find it normal to be excluded from the education system.
 ⦁  Since born, the Bajau children who live in plantation area ( West Coast Bajau ) & sea area ( East Coast Bajau ) are without access to basic education due to :

➳  Legal status (stateless, no  
      birth certificate as they have a 
      traditional nomadic life ; seafarers ) 
      not able to attend government 
      school )
➳Distance ( remote/sea area  )      
➳ Poverty ( very low income )  

                ✨Opportunity ✨

 ✿ Since 1996, Humana Child Aid Society Sabah has been providing primary/ basic education ( reading, writing, simple calculation ) for these stateless children. Their objective is to provide education, in accordance with the UN’s Child Rights Convention, via learning centres for vulnerable groups of children in remote areas of Sabah who do not have access to school.

✿There are 128 learning centres providing education for over 12,000 Bajau Laut and other marginalised children who do not have access to government schools.
✿ This learning centre has given them a hope for a better future as later on they can find employment in shops, restaurants or as tour guides. 

 
- There are also other similar non-profit organisation that provide free learning centres to Bajau children : 
  • Borneo Child Aid /PKPKM (Persatuan Kebajikan Pendidikan Kanak-Kanak Miskin)
                     
                      ADVANTAGE 
-The children are kept away from life on the streets which often leads them to glue sniffing and criminal activities. 
- Education also helps in improving discipline in children ( they are so used to having freedom since born ;  children as young as four catch fish, octopus and lobsters from handmade boats  )

"The illiteracy should stop at our generation: we don't want our children to stay on boats like us." 

# data[].attributes.body
- Slowly progressing
⦁  Most of the Bajau people find it normal to be excluded from the education system.
 ⦁  Since born, the Bajau children who live in plantation area ( West Coast Bajau ) & sea area ( East Coast Bajau ) are without access to basic education due to :

➳  Legal status (stateless, no  
      birth certificate as they have a 
      traditional nomadic life ; seafarers ) 
      not able to attend government 
      school )
➳Distance ( remote/sea area  )      
➳ Poverty ( very low income )  

                ✨Opportunity ✨

 ✿ Since 1996, Humana Child Aid Society Sabah has been providing primary/ basic education ( reading, writing, simple calculation ) for these stateless children. Their objective is to provide education, in accordance with the UN’s Child Rights Convention, via learning centres for vulnerable groups of children in remote areas of Sabah who do not have access to school.

✿There are 128 learning centres providing education for over 12,000 Bajau Laut and other marginalised children who do not have access to government schools.
✿ This learning centre has given them a hope for a better future as later on they can find employment in shops, restaurants or as tour guides. 

 
- There are also other similar non-profit organisation that provide free learning centres to Bajau children : 
  • Borneo Child Aid /PKPKM (Persatuan Kebajikan Pendidikan Kanak-Kanak Miskin)
                     
                      ADVANTAGE 
-The children are kept away from life on the streets which often leads them to glue sniffing and criminal activities. 
- Education also helps in improving discipline in children ( they are so used to having freedom since born ;  children as young as four catch fish, octopus and lobsters from handmade boats  )

"The illiteracy should stop at our generation: we don't want our children to stay on boats like us." 

# data[].attributes.body
Home made goggles made from bits and pieces of drift wood or shipwreck

# data[].attributes.body
A Bajau Laut husband and wife fishing off Denawan Island. Their catch is vital to their survival and can be used for trade and for food

# data[].attributes.body
[]The lives of the Central Sama revolve around fishing, seafaring, and trade, with some farming along the coastal strips

[] Among the Central Sama, both men and women share in agricultural labor and engage in trade

[]Fishing, building boats, and working with iron are primarily male occupations

[]Women generally weave mats and market pottery

[]Trade has also long occupied a central place in Central Sama society

[]Since long ago, seafarers were valued as suppliers of trepang (sea cucumbers), dried fish, pearls, pearl shells, and other marine commodities

[]Currently less than 10% of the school age children attend school despite the fact that the public schools are free to attend

# data[].attributes.body
Bajau people and their children remain deep within their relationship with the ocean.

# data[].attributes.body
Bajau boy playing with pet shark

# data[].attributes.body
~ They eat a bewildering variety of seafood that has been hunted by members of the community

~ Often free-diving using only goggles and handmade spears

~ In fact, the Bajau are noted for their exceptional abilities in free-diving, with physical adaptations in sight and breath

~ In search of a single fish, Bajau’s best free-divers may be able to dive to the depths of over 20 metres and stay there for several minutes on a single breath.
https://youtu.be/MgRpwESWPLM

# data[].attributes.body
** In the Bajau community, many traditional fishing methods are still used, and equipment is still mostly only wooden goggles

** Many households do not have a boat with engine and use only paddle and sails

** Also women are fishing and many of them do regularly dive for seashell, trepang and clams in shallow waters

** One common fishing method is called “ngambaj” in which several fishing boats gather and use nets to surround coral fish while others hits the    water and try to chase the fish against the net

** They are also using harpoons to spear bigger fish surrounded by the nets. This fishing method is also used in the Philippines and Malaysia.

** Typically, this activity is applicable for Bajau people who live near to sea, as known as Laut Bajau

# data[].attributes.headline
               SEA F

# data[].attributes.body
SEA FISHING

# data[].attributes.body
Bajau boy playing with pet shark

# data[].attributes.body
~ Close kindred are distinguished from both kin generally

~ Individual descent lines are recognized, each leading back to a particular ancestor

~ Close kindred constitute, minimally, those sharing descent from common grandparents

~ The principal emphasis is on collateral ties

~ Mutual assistance is considered obligatory unless relations are ruptured by formal enmity and applies in a variety of situations (i.e., life-crisis rites, illness, economic distress, litigation, and conflict).
~Close kindred characteristically form the core of multifamily households, household clusters, and parish groups.

# data[].attributes.body
KINSHIP (Kin Groups and Descent)

# data[].attributes.headline
                        ✔️ Norms and Taboos 🚫

# data[].attributes.subject
                        ✔️ Norms and Taboos 🚫

# data[].attributes.body
Pamali System of Ethics
Code of ethics for respecting the sea, as it is their home and source of livelihood. If not followed, misfortune (bala) will strike them.
🚫 Rubbish into the sea
🚫 Spitting into the sea
🚫 Speaking bad words at sea
🚫 Fishing  and eating small fish that hasn't reached adult size
🚫 Firewood has to be extinguished by throwing into the water directly

General Taboos
🚫 using mirrors at night
🚫 sitting on stairs
🚫 cutting nails at night
🚫 taking babies out at night
🚫 using cracked plates
🚫 whistling at night

Cultural Norms
Marriage
-Arranged marriages
-Woman receiving water buffalos as dowry

Funerals
- kenduri arwah for 7 days and nights
-grand feasts to mark the 7th, 40th and 100th day, and 1 year.
-give Duang to people who come for the event; kuih wajid, saging randang, kuih berate, kuih sinsim etc.
-duang tampu by relatives and neighbours

Raya
-duang raya

# data[].attributes.body
What Are Their Beliefs?

The traditional belief system of the West Coast Bajau people are animistic in nature.
Animistic -  an interaction between spirituals beings and human beings.
Example : In celebrations, worship and exorcism — spirit boats are sailed into the open seas to cast the offending spirit away from their community. They also worship the God of the sea, Omboh Dilaut.

Now -  Mostly Sunni Muslims of Shafi School
They believe that among their people are direct descendants of the prophet Mohammed.

# data[].attributes.headline
                                          Belief System

# data[].attributes.subject
                                          Belief System

# data[].attributes.headline
                                                                     ARTS

# data[].attributes.subject
                                                                     ARTS

# data[].attributes.body
Serdang handicraft

# data[].attributes.body
Tarian Dalling-Dalling

# data[].attributes.body
Festivals
Regatta Lepa:
- Water festival held in April annually in Semporna, Sabah
- 'Lepa' means 'boat'- traditional single-mast sailing boat used in their daily lives
- To compete for the prize of the most beautiful Lepa. Each Lepa has smiling dancers and lively musicians on it in the hope to be crowned 'Most Beautiful Lepa'

# data[].attributes.body
- The West Coast Bajau people speak one language which comprises a chain of mutually intelligible dialects.
- These different dialects serve the purpose of identifying where the language or the speaker originated

🔹 The Sama Bajau speak some ten languages
🔹Sinama is the most common name for these languages ( refer it as Siamal )
🔹 Most Sama-Bajau can speak multiple languages
🔹Sama-Bajau languages are usually written in the Jawi alphabet

# data[].attributes.body
Kilau

# data[].attributes.body
Tayum

# data[].attributes.headline
                                      🍗   FOOD 🍛

# data[].attributes.subject
                                      🍗   FOOD 🍛

# data[].attributes.body
Sagol

# data[].attributes.body
Gabang

# data[].attributes.body
Dance
Tarian Dalling-Dalling:
- Dalling means movement of body following the rhythm
- Performed in formal occassions, weddings and festival Regatta Lepa
- Performed with pantun by one or two singers
- Performed with musical instrument 'Gabang
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHGW0kul7is

Tarian Limbai & Runsai:
- To celebrate bride and groom
- Limbai performed in front of bride and groom before the wedding
- Runsai performed at the night of the wedding
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqsGIjk52JQ

Songs
Kalang Mpatn:
- Only famous among the old folks
-  Made spontaneously by the singer
- Rhyme at the end of the verse
- To express feelings, satire, lessons and entertainment in an effective way

Handicrafts
Serdang handicrafts:
- a woven handicraft
- Serdang: a type of palm leaf
- important source of income of women
- In the beginning, the woven handicrafts were only used as food cover (Teduang)
- Extended to more commercial products such as egg containers, fruit baskets, handbags and waste baskets
- Process of making is similar to tikar mengkuang

# data[].attributes.body
Sagol
- means mixture
-Cooked using Buntal fish, stingray or sharks.
-Fish is minced and cooked with turmeric.
-Two types of sagol, with gravy and without gravy.

Tayum
- sea urchin
-yellow like turmeric colour flesh
- eat alone or with rice
- favourite traditional food of org Bajau because easy to catch

Kilau
- "sushi org Bajau"
- Eaten raw, the meat is mixed with vinegar and lemon.
- Mango, peppers, onions, tomato and ginger used in this dish.

# data[].attributes.body
Badu - Brightly coloured satiny blouse with flared sleeves showing cuffs of underblouse in contrasting hue.

Suar- Trousers made of similar material in contrasting colour and red trimming.

Tanjak -  Headdress of folded kain dastar (used for weddings).

Ingkot pangkat - Silver coin belt with a wide buckle with an attachment called supu.

Selendang - Sash tied around the waist

# data[].attributes.body
Badu sipak/ badu sampit - Brightly coloured satiny blouse, usually yellow T. The flared sleeves show the cuffs of an underblouse in contrasting hue.

Kain mogah - Long handwoven wrap-skirt, with horizontal stripes, usually red and black.

Olos berangkit  - Full-length black wrap-skirt with a wide vertical panel (sarong).

Selendang - Scarf over the shoulders

Accessories:

Mandapun -  Flat cloth-covered collar-ornament accentuating the neckline.

Sarempak  - Two-piece head decoration in the shape of a ship made of gilded silver or modern substitute.

Galang - Silver bangles.

Subang - gold or silver ear pendants.

Keku  - Long tapered, gold, silver or brass fingercovers.

Ingkot pangkat - Silver coin belt with a wide buckle.

# data[].attributes.headline
                                    HISTORY 📜

# data[].attributes.subject
                                    HISTORY 📜

# data[].attributes.headline
                                       INTRODUCTION

# data[].attributes.subject
                                       INTRODUCTION

# data[].attributes.body
1. The origin of the Bajau people is uncertain. Pallesen reckons that by A.D. 1100, Bajau groups had reached Southern Sulu and the northeast coast of Borneo (116-123). Although it is not certain when the West Coast Bajau initially settled in Kota Belud, their presence here has been documented since Spencer St. John wrote about them in the 1850s and 1860s.

In 1773, the Bajau were already well established in northern Borneo when Captain Thomas Forrest first visited the western and northern coasts - what is now Sabah.

On the southeastern coast of Sabah, the Bajau were historically part of the Sulu zone. In 1878 the territory now comprising Sabah was surrendered by the sultans of Sulu and Brunei to the British North Borneo Chartered Company.

# data[].attributes.body
In the crystal blue coral seas just off the coast of Malaysia there are a group of people who have forged such an intimate relationship with the water that they rarely leave it. After being banned from living on Malaysian soil because of their refugee status, the Bajau people have severed ties with the mainland, instead choosing to live a nomadic lifestyle on the open ocean.Standing on stilts above the lapping waves,

Instead of learning about algebra or science, the Bajau children are given a net and taught to catch fish, octopus and lobsters off their unique handmade boats.
The children reportedly spend so much time in the ocean that their eyes have adjusted to see more clearly underwater and much like sea sickness for those who live on land, they also experience 'land sickness' when they leave the water. In the rare contact they have with people on land, the refugee community travels to the nearby town of Semporna to trade seafood for the necessities you can't find in the ocean.

# data[].attributes.body
🌸 2nd largest tribe in Sabah
🌸 Makes up at least 436,672 of Bajau people in Sabah, Malaysia (15% of the total population in Sabah).
🌸 separated into two;
1.East coast Bajau
Kudat, Sandakan, Lahad Datu, Kunak, Semporna and Tawau.
2. West coast Bajau
Kota Kinabalu until Kota Belud.

# data[].attributes.body
🔷 Tribal group of known for their nomadic, sedentary lifestyle and their seafaring field of work like fishing 🌊 🐟 🐡.

🔶 Spend a majority of their time by the seaside and often live in houses built on stilts.

🔷 Come ashore only to bury the deceased 💀 and to live temporarily while making new boats.

🔶 Still practice that same lifestyle to this day and are commonly called as sea gypsies.

🔷 Began living entirely on land about 200 years ago.

🔶 Many of the groups are found in Malaysia's eastern state, Sabah, on the island of Borneo. They chart particularly the waters of the Sulu Sea, off the southwestern coast of the Philippines🇵🇭 and the various seas that surround the Indonesian island of Sulawesi 🇵🇱.