Wan Shawaluddin Wan Hassan Zaini Othman UMS · Literature Review De Silva (2009) focused on the Javanese coolies (1914-1932); Syed Razak – (2014) Indonesian workers in Sabah ; Amrullah,

Wan Shawaluddin Wan Hassan

&

Zaini Othman

UMS

Introduction • I would like to start my presentation today by stating that Sabah’s economy

has always been dependent on foreign workers since the inception of the British North Borneo Company in 1881. That dependency is still with us until today (Ramli & Kamarulnizam, 2015). Studies by Wong (1998, 1999) on Chinese paid labourers mostly Hakkas from China brought over to work in North Borneo proves this.

• But in this paper will only highlight unskilled Filipino and Indonesia workers in Sabah.

• The National Economic Policy was introduced in 1971 (with two prong objectives (1) to eradicate poverty in Malaysia (2) the restructuring of Malaysian society to rectify the racial economic imbalance (Chamhuri & Surtahman, 1985). Sabah also experienced growth in all economic sectors as a result of the NEP and later on the National Development Policy (1991-2000) and National Vision Policy (NVP), these boost the economy leading to many new job openings.

Samb. Almost all economic sectors (plantation, maritime,

construction, services, agricultural, forestry etc) involved foreign labourers, more specifically unskilled foreign labourers.

The objectives of this paper (1) to discuss the factors that pull foreign labourers to Sabah (2) to highlight the impact of their presence to the economy

This paper will be divided into five sections. First will discuss the literature review followed by a brief introduction about the population of Sabah. Thirdly, reasons for their presence in Sabah. Fourthly, the impact of their presence to the economy and finally the conclusion.

Literature Review De Silva (2009) focused on the Javanese coolies (1914-1932);

Syed Razak – (2014) Indonesian workers in Sabah ; Amrullah, Ramli & Zaini, (2015) Indonesian informal workers ; Wan Shawaluddin, Marja & Ahmad (2011) studied the Indonesian undocumented workers in the oil palm plantation, Azizah (2004, 2005, 2009) focusing on illegal migrant and Filipino refugees in Sabah; Suraya (2007) and Wan Shawaluddin et. al. (2015) studied the Bugis ; Mohd Raduan et. al. (2010) studied the involvement of fisherman from Celebes in the fishing industry in Sabah etc. Studies on Filipino migrants from 1980s until now are plenty except that highlighting the contribution of Filipinos (Illocanos, Tagalog etc) which is still lacking. They work as doctors, engineers, teachers, forest officer during the British North Borneo Company.

Population The population of Sabah in 1970 was 651,304 and

by 2010 it increased to a staggering 3,117,405, a 479 per cent increase. Foreigners now make up 28 percent of the population (Population and Housing Census of Malaysia, 2010). According to Azizah Kassim (2009) there are around 200,000 to 1 million of undocumented migrants in Sabah.

Why are they here? If we apply in this case the push and pull factor, the push factor here

are the political situation in the Philippines especially with the civil war between the Christian and the Muslims in the southern Philippines (Sulu and Tawi-Tawi) since 1970s which drove the Southern Muslims to Sabah. As a result of the civil war, economic development in the region was slow. Ironically this is not the case in Celebes, Indonesia. Politics in Indonesia is stable. The economy under Suharto and the current leader is doing okay. So what’s the reason then? It’s not that there in Celebes there’s not much work, because they are farmers. Based on interviews with Tenaga Kerja Indonesia (TKI) Bugis when asked why they come to Sabah? Generally their response will be, “ingin mencari kelebihang…” (to get more income). “Bukannya tak boleh makang, tapi nda cukup untuk simpang…”(it’s not because they could not afford to eat but the fact that it’s not enough for saving).

The pull factor- There are plenty of job openings due to locals shying from the jobs- related to 3D (danger, difficult & dirty). Jobs in the construction, plantation, services, etc.

Samb. Porous border- among the factors contributing to porous

borders are the geographical proximity between Sabah and the Philippines and Indonesia, historical and cultural ties (Dayang Suria et. al, 2015).

Migrant networks is significant in encouraging migration (Dayang (2010) Dayang et. al.(2015). Social networking will provide information regarding the new surrounding, for example what to do and what not to do. Secondly, provide lodging, borrowing money and also contact for the newcomer to get jobs (Wan Shawaluddin et. al, 2015). In some cases, these social networks can also facilitate the process of getting citizenship (Dayang et al. (2015).

Impact The fact that foreign workers contribute to Sabah

economy.

Remittance – the flow out of our money to Indonesia is a burst to our economy.

Foreign workers as a scape goat by locals - their presence in Sabah is one of the reason for locals being unemployed.

Samb. Foreigners and illegal settlement- a big problem for

ESSCOM. The presence of the kampong air/water village in Sandakan (with the demolishment of Kg BDC, new kg emerged- , Lahad Datu (Kg Puyot, Bakau), Semporna (Kg Bangau-Bangau, Simunul) & Tawau (Kg Icebox, Kg Hidayat).

Criminal Activities – Human Trafficking & Smuggling (drugs, arms).

Illegal fishing methods- fish bombing which destroys the reef as a result impacting on our nature tourism.

Migrant social network is the pull factor for the increase of the foreigner in getting citizenship in Sabah.

Conclusion Sabah’s economy is still basically labour

intensive. The construction, plantation, services, maritime mainly have to rely on foreign workers. The economy will collapse without them. Nevertheless, regularization is needed for the foreign labour in order to work in Sabah.

References Ahmad Mosfi Mahmood, Wan Shawaluddin Wan Hassan, Judding Bakri, Muhammad Syarafi & Al ZubairRijal. 2013.

Foreign worker’s remittance and risk of regional economy: A preliminary study on the oil palm plantation sector in the east coast of Sabah, Malaysia. Journal of Safety & Crisis Management, Vol 3 No. 2 : 30-40.

Amrullah Maraining, Ramli Dollah & Zaini Othman, BURUH INFORMAL INDONESIA DI SABAH, Proceeding of the 9th International Conference on Malaysia-Indonesia relations, Universitas Negeri Jogjakarta, Jogjakarta, 15-17 September.

De Silva, M., 2009, Javanese Indentured Labourers in British North Borneo, 1914-1932. PhD. University of London. Ramli Dollah & Mohd Kamarulnizam Abdullah, 2015, Pembangunan Ekonomi Dan Krisis Tenaga Kerja Di Malaysia:

Geneologi Tenaga Kerja Asing di Sabah, Proceeding of the 9th International Conference on Malaysia-Indonesia relations, Universitas Negeri Jogjakarta, Jogjakarta, 15-17 September.

Rosazman Hussin & Mizpal Ali, 2014, Mengenalpasti cabaran projek pengkulturan estet mini rumpai laut (seaweed) dalam kalangan kalangan komuniti nelayan di Semporna, Sabah, Kertas kerja dibentangkan di Persidangan Pengajian Malaysia ke 9, UMT, Kuala Terengganu, 18-20 Ogos.

Syed Abdul Razak Syed Mahadi, 2014, Indonesian labour migrants to Sabah: Changes, trends and impacts, Unpublished PhD Thesis, University of Adelaide.

Wan Shawaluddin Wan Hassan, Zaini Othman & Ramli Dollah. 2008. “Pemerintah dan Pendatang Asing Di Sabah: Satu Analisis Kritikal” Jurnal MANU, Bil. 14 : 1-23.

Wan Shawaluddin Wan Hassan, Marja Azlima Omar & Ahmad Mosfi Mahmood. 2011. “Undocumented workers in Sabah Plantation Sector: By Force or by Choice?” dalam Jurnal Bumantara. Vol 1 (1): 127-140.

Wan Shawaluddin Wan Hassan, Ramli Dollah & Dewi Herviani. 2015, TKI Bugis dalam sector perladangan di Sabah, Jurnal MANU, Bil. 21 : 24-34.

Wong, Tze Ken, Danny., 1998, The transformation of an immigrant society: a study of the Chinese of Sabah, London: ASEAN Academic Press.

Wong Tze-Ken Danny, Chinese Migration to Sabah Before the Second World War, Archipel. Volume 58, 1999. : 131-158.

Thank You