Sabah's Indigenous Peoples
Sabah is home to over thirty indigenous ethnic groups, collectively referred to as the Orang Asal (Original People). The Kadazan-Dusun, Bajau, Murut, Rungus, and many other communities have inhabited this land for centuries. Their rights are protected under both domestic Malaysian law (to a limited extent) and, more robustly, under international law — including the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
Land Rights and Dispossession
Perhaps the most pressing immediate concern for indigenous communities in Sabah is the systematic dispossession of their ancestral lands. Agricultural concessions — particularly for oil palm — have encroached on traditional territories, often without free, prior, and informed consent as required by UNDRIP. Communities that resist face legal threats, harassment, and in some cases, physical violence.
Language and Cultural Rights
The linguistic and cultural rights of indigenous Sabahans are also under pressure. Many indigenous languages are classified as endangered. The education system does not adequately support indigenous language instruction. Cultural practices and ceremonies that are integral to community identity and wellbeing are marginalised by the dominant national culture.