Man fights for identity and rights in Sarawak, Malaysia
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Paulus of Sarawak, Malaysia, first secured identification documents for himself, then advocated for official recognition of his Sa’ban community.
Growing up in a remote village, Paulus faced a multi-day journey just to reach school and later struggled to obtain a MyKad, Malaysia’s national identification card, needed for education and employment. It took nearly six years to register his birth and receive the card, allowing him to pursue a career as a teacher.
However, Paulus later discovered the government had not classified the Sa’ban people as Bumiputera, an indigenous status granting certain rights. He joined a committee that worked for years to educate authorities about the Sa’ban community’s history and identity. In 2022, the Sa’ban were officially added to Sarawak’s list of indigenous peoples through a new ordinance. Despite this victory, Paulus continues to help Sa’ban people and members of the Kenyah community, another group facing documentation issues, obtain MyKads.
He fears younger generations may lose connection to Sa’ban culture and language and believes all communities deserve support to maintain their identities.
