Yesterday, a young Palauh (Bajau Laut aka Sea Gypsy) was killed by a crocodile in front of his father at Lahad Datu.
But let's get one thing clear first.
He and the father were most probably stateless people. One amongst most probably hundreds of thousands, if not millions in this state. They are considered a major issue. Affecting nearly every aspect of life here, from the economy, security, safety, employment, social ills, to even public health....they are often seen, and yes, treated as a nuisance at best...or something less than human, sometimes.
This was one of those times.
But I don't want to talk about the person who treated them that way. This is between him and God, between him and his conscience. That is him.
I just want to share something about my interaction here with the children of the Palauh. Not just those on the islands that we run some community programmes at, but also those kids that are running about in town.
But let's get one thing clear first.
These kids, they're dirty, unkempt, noisy, sometimes rude and rowdy, especially amongst themselves, aggressive, can be deceptive, conniving, and etc. Not the best traits to endear themselves to others.
I used to feel cautious (if I am honest, maybe even fearful) and a little bit irritated by their behaviour sometimes. Especially when they kept bugging me to carry my shopping bags, tagging along asking for 50sens, 1 ringgit...making that pitiful face, making that gesture of eating and then rubbing their stomachs, implying they were hungry. There were times (and still do sometimes), when I felt that I needed to smack them for misbehaving, pushing, shoving, trying to grab stuff even after I told them not to.
Then something changed.
But let's get one thing clear first.
They're all the above still. Except, these days, when they crowd around me, it isn't to grab something or demand something. Some call me Pakcik. A couple of them call me Bapa or Ayah. They don't ask me for money anymore. Ah Boi helps me carry stuff sometimes. So too does Amisa and Laila. But they don't ask for payment. I just give anyway. A few times Ah Boi told me don't need it.
The other kids, too many for me to remember their names, when they see our car approaching, run to it now and cause a spectacle. They still ask if we're giving slippers. But they don't demand anymore. Well, not much anyway (some things can't be changed entirely).
But you know what's the biggest change?
It's not them. It's me.
I don't fear them anymore. I don't feel dirty when touched by them. I will still scold them when they misbehave. Or get too rowdy. But I don't see them as a menace. Just kids misbehaving. I don't feel repulsed by their dirty clothes. I don't think they smell just by their looks (they don't actually). I get it that there are many things they are ignorant of, but then I have heard Laila rap to an English song recently, so I know they're not stupid. I don't think these are bad people, just because they don't have a piece of paper. Just because they were born in a land that doesn't accept them because of circumstances. Just because they don't speak the same language as I do. Or hold no nationality or accepted by any.
They're kids. Just like my neighbours kids. Like my colleagues kids. My friends kids.
But let's get one thing clear first.
They will not ever have the opportunities, chances, future or even present, like any of those kids I mentioned above. They will never be the same or get the same as your kids.
But there's one thing they can get. From you. From me. From everyone else.
Respect and dignity, to be treated as a human being.
Let's get that one thing clear first.
William Cheah is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav.
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