The Sea is Indigenous 'Land' Too: Negotiating Presence and Rights of Indigenous Maritime Communities in Sabah, Malaysia

Abstract:In Sabah, Malaysia, Indigenous communities continue to demand greater visibility and representation from the government. Citing the lack of political will, indigenes struggle to maintain their indigeneity and heritage, especially when it is so closely tied to place and possession, affecting their livelihoods and cultural practices. This becomes more precarious for Indigenous maritime communities, whose affinity with the sea is viewed by the Malaysian state as dangerous and inhospitable because of the sea's fluid and motile nature. Set against the 2018 general elections and after, this paper unpacks narratives of survival, heritage and identity of Indigenous maritime residents.