Press Releases
Press Releases
Date: 2 DEC 2022
SABAH CIVIL SOCIETIES CALL FOR ACTION TO FURTHER
INVESTIGATION THE CASE OF FATHER AND SON ATTACKED BY
CROCODILES IN LAHAD DATU, SABAH.Date: 2 DEC 2022
SABAH CIVIL SOCIETIES CALL FOR ACTION TO FURTHER INVESTIGATION THE CASE OF FATHER AND SON ATTACKED BY CROCODILES IN LAHAD DATU, SABAH.
According to The Star, on 1 December 2022 in Lahad Datu, Sabah, a man was injured and his year-old son missing when a crocodile attacked them near the marine police operations headquarters. The article stated that the father and son were rowing a boat in waters off the Lahad Datu Marine operations base when the crocodile attacked. The son is still missing up until now, while the father is warded for serious injuries sustained in the incident.
However, based on the video viralled on Facebook the person who recorded the video was heard to be saying "Siapa suruh kau lari tadi, tulah kena makan buaya" which translates to “Who asked you to run just now, that's why you were eaten by the crocodile.” In a Facebook post by Jefry Musa, an activist, he stated that “Anak ini dan ayahnya terjun ke laut kerana takut ada operasi dari imigresen” which translates to “This child and his father jumped into the sea because they were afraid of an operation by the Immigration”.
The video and statement above raise questions about media articles which reported that the father and son were rowing a boat when the tragedy happened; yet the person who recorded the video indicated that the father ran away and was the reason his son got attacked by the crocodile.
The CSO Platform for Reform (Sabah Chapter) urges further and in-depth investigation on this case for the father’s right and justice for his son. We demand immediate action from the relevant authorities be taken, as follows:
A. Royal Malaysian Police/Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) to investigate whether the father and son ended up in the sea due to running away from government authorities which has caused them to be attacked by the crocodile.
B. Sabah State Government to:
i. Ensure their mechanisms to solve the issue of statelessness and undocumented persons respect the rights and human dignity of persons.
ii. Re-evaluate the function of the state’s current law-keeping mechanisms, to ensure they cause no undue harm especially to those who cannot protect themselves.
iii. Exercise the state’s duty to protect all children as per Convention on the Rights of the Child.
iv. Engage proactively with NGOs and advocates who work closely with the marginalised communities.
C. Sabah Social Welfare Department Malaysian/Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat Malaysia (JKMM) to ensure wellbeing and safety of the injured father.
D. Immigration Department of Malaysia/Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia needs to:
i. Uphold the responsibility of preserving life even when executing their responsibilities.
ii. Decriminalise immigration-related offences that are not really a threat to the nation i.e labour migrants and statelessness.
All the relevant authorities should take these actions to ensure children no longer live in fear of the authorities due to the discrimination towards them as non-citizens in Malaysia. As a platform for civil society organisations working on institutional reform, we demand to end the injustice towards the community, especially the children. All children need to be able to live a carefree life as children, play, learn, develop themselves to their full potential.
This statement is supported by:
1. Advocates For Non-Discrimination and Access To Knowledge (ANAK)
2. Belia Di Bawah Bayu
3. Borneo Komrad
4. Cahaya Society
5. Etania Schools Sabah
6. Ezplast Solution Sdn Bhd
7. Iskul Sama DiLaut Omadal
8. Kota Kita
9. Kudat Turtle Conservation Society (KTCS)
10. Non-Governmental Individual - Megan Steven
11. Pertubuhan Profesional Suluk Sabah (PROS)
12. Sabah Human Rights Centre (SHRC)
13. Sabah Reform Initiative (SARI)
14. Society For Equality, Respect And Trust For All Sabah (SERATA)
15. Suara Community Filmmaking
16. Tiada.Guru
17. Undi Sabah
18. ZeroWaste Sabah
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