Hajiji said the Pala’u community, also known as the Bajau Laut, are stateless because they live among the Sulawesi and Sulu seas that border Sabah, the southern Philippines and Indonesia’s Sulawesi.

However, he said, the Pala’u are not illegal migrants and the government is obliged to protect them if they enter Malaysia’s borders.

“Under international law, wherever the Pala’u are present, the country must take care of them,” he told reporters in Kota Kinabalu today, The Star reported.

Hajiji said the state government has recorded the biometric data of about 27,000 Pala’u.

It was reported that issues relevant to the Pala’u were discussed at Sabah’s state security council meeting following the community’s forced eviction and demolition of their homes in Semporna, sparking human rights concerns.

Hajiji said the chiefs of departments and government agencies were told to resolve these issues immediately.

“We do not want the issues to grow bigger and affect the state and country’s image globally,” he said.

Often called sea gypsies, the Pala’u are a nomadic maritime community native to the waters of Southeast Asia, spanning the Sulu and Celebes Seas.

Known for their seafaring skills, they have traditionally lived on houseboats, relying heavily on fishing and marine resources for their livelihood.