KOTA KINABALU: Civil society groups are calling for greater transparency on Sabah's undocumented population and stronger action to curb rising xenophobia.
They urged efforts to address growing hostility through workshops and advocacy on basic human rights in collaboration with civil society organisations in Sabah.
"We, the undersigned, call on the state government to commit to releasing data on the '1/3 population' said to be stateless or undocumented as soon as possible," they said in a joint statement on Sunday (April 5).
They also called for an end to the growing xenophobia and vitriol stemming from a lack of understanding of basic human rights through comprehensive workshops and advocacy to promote unity in diversity.
The call comes amid backlash against a social media influencer who was criticised online over her remarks on undocumented immigrants, including misogynistic comments and doxxing.
The groups stated that things have turned for the worse when a local influencer was excoriated for sharing her personal opinions and for calling for more empathy towards these marginalised communities.
"We strongly believe that the online hate campaign is completely uncalled for and is a result of misplaced outrage," they said.
The groups said online discussions on issues such as the citizenship status of Pulau Gaya residents, unpaid hospital bills involving non-citizens and the charging of a stateless Bajau Laut man had fuelled hostility.
The groups noted that migration flows through the region have existed for hundreds of years and many forefathers came from abroad before being assimilated into the fabric of Sabahans.
The joint statement was signed by 14 civil society organisations, including Society for Equality, Respect and Trust for All Sabah, CSO Platform for Reform, Sabah Reform Initiative and Reproductive Rights Advocacy Alliance Malaysia.
Other signatories included Partners of Community Organisations, Cahaya Society, Borneo Komrad, Kesatuan Stateless, Advocates for Non-Discrimination and Access to Knowledge, Meraki Daat Initiative, POW.ER63 and Borneo Speaks.
While acknowledging frustration over the lack of progress, the groups said this did not justify scapegoating vulnerable communities.
They noted that the Royal Commission of Inquiry on illegal immigrants in Sabah, formed in 2012, had yet to produce concrete solutions, while calls in 2024 for the Project IC report to be tabled in Parliament were not acted upon.
Citing official statistics, they said Sabah continues to record the highest number of non-citizen residents nationwide.
They added that although the Foreign Nationals Management Committee was set up in July 2025, the move was seen as too little, too late.
The groups also proposed forming a secretariat in collaboration with Sabah CSOs. They warned that unchecked hostility could undermine Sabah's image as a racially harmonious society.
Calling for an end to toxic xenophobic discourse, the groups said leaders must set a better example. "While man-made laws exist to protect national borders, human dignity and respect must still prevail," they said.
