Dear Mabul-ian,
I know almost nothing about Mabul except it is one of the most beautiful islands in Sabah. Information online says its perfect for diving, snorkelling and everything else related to the sea. So why do people say it’s not a safe place to travel. My curiosity about why people say it is not a safe place to travel naturally led me to join a trip to the island in the hope of a chance conversation with one of the army (yes, I did.) So, here I am on a 4 day/3 night community visit under the Malaysian Ocean Youth Ambassadors programme staying at Uncle Chang’s Sipadan Mabul Dive Lodge.
I decided to share what I genuinely felt during the visit in the form of a letter as none of the thousands of photos and video footage could describe the beauty of Mabul.
As soon as we arrived, the lovely clear sea water and vastness of the ocean absolutely astounded me. A splendid morning with gentle splashes of sea water hitting my cheek and my feet gently touching the sand as I jumped off a wooden bridge onto the beach was an indescribable moment. I will never forget the view of the rainbow in the sky and the stunning coral reefs. The weather and the ocean were unpredictable as if someone was experiencing mood swings; sometimes calm and then all of a sudden, the waves would roar. It was another level of nature that I’d never seen before and I could catch sight of it every day.
We started walking in the evening and I noticed the fishing boats with red, yellow and black stripes on the side as it tapered to a long sharp tip at the front of the boat. You could see them everywhere. The excitement began when a group of children performed their jumping skill into the sea. When I stepped into your residential area, it was like being in another world straight away. Not for a moment did I imagine Mabul having this frame of view.
A lot of rare things caught my attention such as whale paintings and plants creatively decorating the house walls. How wise it is to sell detergents, cooking oils and other liquid stuff in plastic ice cream containers so that everyone could afford it. The perfect village was with a football field, basketball and volleyball courts. Some very clean areas made me enjoy seeing the children’s drawings on the ground. Beside this, I had never seen a newborn’s hair put in a coconut and hung on a tree. All things considered as your identity, uniqueness and heritage.
What made the trip amazing was experiencing something that happens in a world that has never been captured or probably a world one chooses not to share. I heard the dark side of what you went through as well but I choose not to list for reasons you know better. It appears that I was devastated by the issues and asked myself…
Who am I to question your existence when you yourself have no other choice to be born in that environment?
Who am I to set the standard of wealth and happiness through materialism?
Who am I to say I’m the greatest when I have to pay to learn skills that you are so naturally gifted with?
Who am I to say that I am the luckiest when nature greets you every day?
And
Who am I to enjoy the great facilities I am provided with but not be able to serve the community?
Witnessing the way you live challenged my current mentality.
Here, I began to realize the fact that the whole world in general is suffering diverse issues. Myself, you, the people from the other side of Sabah and even the LAND itself have to FIGHT for rights. It seems to me that someone can help to voice out but the power is in our unity; craving for a better future.
The army may seem calm and look like they are doing nothing but in fact they are like bombs waiting to explode. Not only the teacher who started teaching five students under the house but also the IKLIM youth heroes who are involved in the coral restoration project. Those who serve in boat transportation so anyone can buy stuff in town and others that I have not mentioned are equally important. You have embarked on a journey.
Regardless of the circumstances, it is fascinating to meet the Mabul community and encourage you to START what YOU want to DO. Know that you are not alone since there is someone like you on the other side fighting the battle.
Remember without YOU, Mabul is just an island.
You matter.
Yours sincerely,
A girl named Suzy
Lives in the heart of the city but grew up in the poorest district of Sabah
