KOTA KINABALU: Warisan has accused a social media page of deliberately twisting Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal’s remarks on stateless sea nomads into false claims that he supports illegal immigrants.
Warisan vice-president Terrence Siambun said, in a statement Tuesday (Oct 7), that the party “rejects entirely” the accusation posted by the page, which claimed that Shafie was promoting PTIs (undocumented immigrants).
“In reality, Shafie’s statement was about the Palauh or Bajau Laut community — sea nomads who have lived in Sabah’s eastern waters for centuries without stable documentation or recognition of status,” Terrence said.
“He never advocated blanket citizenship for illegal immigrants. He urged that even stateless communities residing within Sabah’s territorial waters must be treated humanely, documented, and managed — not demonised or ignored.”
Shafie had said, “These Palauh have lived in the waters off Sabah’s east coast for hundreds of years. They cannot be equated with PTIs. Under UN principles, the country in whose territory they live has the duty to care for them. They are undocumented; no state currently acknowledges or takes them. Sabah must adopt the best possible approach rather than leaving them adrift without identity.”
Terrence said Shafie’s remarks were a call for “responsible, dignified governance” and not support for illegal immigration.
He also accused the page of a “double standard” by ignoring similar statements made by GRS leaders.
Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, he pointed out, had in July 2024 affirmed that the Palauh or Bajau Laut community was stateless and must not be conflated with PTIs.
“Hajiji said the state has biometric data on about 27,000 Palauh individuals scattered across Sabah and they must be assisted under the United Nations convention on protecting stateless persons,” Terrence said.
“In the aftermath of controversial evictions in marine park zones, Hajiji said the state government "will continue protecting the Bajau Laut community" and emphasised that their welfare is a priority.”
Terrence added that Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Seri Jeffrey Kitingan had also spoken about digitising data and registering undocumented and stateless individuals.
“In 2024, Jeffrey warned that the Palauh community ‘could not be left in limbo’ and that their stateless status prevents access to essential services,” he said.
“These positions — that stateless people should be documented, engaged, and protected — mirror Shafie’s stance. Yet only Shafie’s statement has been distorted into a scandal.”
Terrence urged Sabahans not to be swayed by misinformation.
“Shafie’s position is grounded in human rights, international norms, and pragmatic governance — not political expedience,” he said.
“The real issue is not Shafie’s call for humane treatment but the deliberate use of falsehoods to attack political opponents.”
