SEMPORNA – Another incident of travelers taking indecent pictures of Bajau Laut or ocean vagabonds in the region has arisen yesterday.
Jefry Musa, who was teaching at a community-based school “Iskul Sama Dilaut Omadal” here, was infuriated when a group of tourists on a registered tourist boat came to the Omadal island during a schooling session.
He said they stopped in front of the school and began asking the shirtless Bajau Laut kids to swim for them to take pictures.
“As the situation went out of control to the extent of disturbing my students, I went out (from the classroom) and asked them to cease from taking nude pictures of the children as it is discourteous and unethical.
“They nodded but still continued on taking photos a while later. We welcome tourists, but not like this.
“They should not think that by just giving these youngster food justifies their bad behaviour,” he said, adding that tourists should not be disrespectful to underprivileged people.
The 28-year-old teacher from Kuantan, who had taught two years in Kampung Bangau-Bangau and second year at Omadal island here, added that it was not the first time such an incident happened.
He said Omadal island is not listed as one of the traveler destinations in Semporna but the tour operators will bring their customers and clients there by requests.
Two months ago, a similar incident happened at Mabul island off where a tourist recorded himself on TikTok video dumping the rice he was eating on a sea gypsy child.
In that TikTok video he had implied that the sea gypsies would come to tourists to get food from them and asked others to get old clothes for them.
A humanitarian activist who wanted to be known only as Dr Jacknaim, defended that although the community did not live a wealthy lifestyle, all they needed was education and social change, as well as empowerment sea natives.
In 2018, a similar incident involving tourists passing out food to the sea gypsies ended when more people climbed onto their boats asking for more.
The government had warned tourists from handing out food for tourists safety.
Source: Olivia Miwil (NST.COM.MY)
