The Bajau Laut families left adrift and stateless

As early as the 15th century, the Bajau Laut moved around freely in the Sulu Zone – the area around the Sulu Sea and Celebes Sea – until the concept of national borders came into being.

Many chose to stay on land in the emerging nation-states, while others chose to roam free at sea. But the descendants of the latter – often referred to as ‘Sea Nomads’ or Sama Dilaut, a sub-group of the Sama-Bajau – are finding their movement and access to livelihood become increasingly restricted. Many eventually end up stateless, just like Unggun.

Unggun has been living in a traditional Bajau Laut houseboat on the waters off Semporna for most of his life, after fleeing from Tawi-Tawi at a young age...