LAHAD DATU: Young Pala'u children begging at traffic lights and members of the community openly sniffing glue by the roadside have highlighted the need for a coordinated approach to address their social vulnerabilities.
A Metro Ahad survey found children, some believed to be as young as three, approaching motorists with plastic containers to beg for money, exposing themselves to the risk of being hit by vehicles.
Nearby, several women believed to be from the Pala'u community were seen resting by the roadside, with some holding plastic bags believed to contain glue. Children were also seen roaming without apparent adult supervision.
Residents said the number of Pala'u people begging in town had declined following repeated enforcement operations.
Fast-food restaurant worker Azim Muhamad said many returned to their dwellings in mangrove areas in the evening.
"There used to be many more. The numbers have come down somewhat because of frequent checks," he said.
A trader known only as Choo said glue-sniffing among some members of the community had been going on for years, claiming the substance was used to stave off hunger.
He said fewer people now begged at traffic lights following a near-miss accident, with some instead moving from shop to shop while carrying infants and young children.
Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) commander Datuk Victor Sanjos said tackling glue-sniffing, particularly among children, required a comprehensive approach involving enforcement, child protection, education, treatment and rehabilitation.
He said Esscom focused on security, enforcement coordination and prevention, while treatment and rehabilitation were handled by relevant agencies.
Measures included integrated operations in high-risk areas, increased patrols at gathering spots and awareness programmes on substance abuse. Community engagement sessions were also held to raise awareness of security, the law and community responsibilities in the Eastern Sabah Security Zone (ESSzone).
"Security personnel can identify individuals at risk and refer them to the relevant agencies," he told Metro Ahad.
An Esscom intelligence study last year estimated the Pala'u population in ESSzone at 9,657, including 7,589 in Semporna, 570 in Lahad Datu, 508 in Kudat, 450 in Tawau and 110 in Pitas.
Victor said enforcement remained challenging because some members lacked identity documents or verifiable citizenship status, while their mobile, sea-based lifestyle and scattered settlements made continuous monitoring difficult.
He said remote coastal settlements could also leave members of the community vulnerable to exploitation by transnational criminal syndicates involved in smuggling, human trafficking and the entry of undocumented migrants.
However, he stressed that enforcement must be intelligence-led and target individuals or groups committing offences, rather than associating the entire community with criminal activities.
He said the vast ESSzone and remote settlements required sustained patrols, sufficient maritime assets and close coordination among enforcement and security agencies.
In the longer term, addressing glue-sniffing required efforts to tackle underlying vulnerabilities, including poverty, school dropouts and limited access to basic services.
"Enforcement alone may not be enough to break the cycle," he said.
Previously, Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the state government was pursuing a resettlement initiative for the Pala'u community at Pantai Manis in Semporna, targeting between 50 and 100 houses and employment opportunities in plantation, aquaculture, agriculture and skills-based sectors.
Victor said 84 hectares at Pantai Manis had been approved for resettlement, with plans for public facilities, including a basic education centre for Pala'u children and a skills training centre.
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