Fridae

Queer people interviewed in Sabah described slow, confusing citizenship procedures and trouble getting into school, finding formal work and accessing healthcare. ASEAN SOGIE Caucus published a public summary of the research on 15 October.

The fieldwork took place in June 2025. Researchers interviewed participants and reviewed documents. They included nine eligible trans women and gay men in the analysis. All were stateless or formerly stateless. Recruitment was through civil society and grassroots networks, rather than random selection. Some had no documents. Others had temporary status, or had obtained Malaysian citizenship after years without it.

Participants said officials had considerable discretion over the paperwork. Community groups and informal networks often helped them deal with the system. The summary also describes difficulty getting protection from violence; the organisation says discrimination over sexuality or gender can worsen these problems.

These accounts cannot tell us how many people face the same difficulties across Sabah. ASEAN SOGIE Caucus calls for clearer routes to citizenship and more support for the community organisations helping people with documentation.