He was questioned under the Sedition Act of 1948 in late June 2024 for his online comments on the evictions of the Bajau Laut community from their settlement in Semporna. But, this wasn’t his first brush with draconian laws that target free speech, the right to peaceful gatherings and activists in Malaysia.
But who exactly is Mukmin Nantang, this seemingly fearless figure who never backs down from the causes he champions?
The Making Of An Activist
As a young boy, political discussions were absent in Mukmin Nantang’s household. Raised by a father who worked multiple jobs (taxi driver, lorry driver, handyman) and a mother who sewed and took on small catering jobs, Mukmin, the sixth of ten siblings, spent much of his childhood in front of the television, with public channels (TV1, TV2, and TV3) as his companions.
The arrival of the internet exposed him to the BERSIH protests, sparking an awareness of a larger world beyond his immediate surroundings.
The 2008 BERSIH protest particularly resonated with Mukmin; seeing its aftermath while still in school, he naively listed himself as the founder of BERSIH Sabah on his Facebook profile.
Despite widespread negative sentiments about the movement, he was captivated by the slogans on the banners. This new awareness led him to recognise local issues, like poverty among his friends, poor roads, and a lack of clean water, which fueled his growing sense of injustice.
Growing up in Tawau, Mukmin was further influenced by religious lectures interwoven with political messages. He also absorbed a local culture of village conflicts, which instilled a strong rebellious streak and a drive to fight against perceived injustices.
Our village group was called Budak Pondok Pisang. We would clash with groups like Budak Amuk, Budak Ice Box, and Budak Pasar. We made weapons, which we called pitik (flying feather) or tied arrows. This taught me a spirit of rebellion against injustice, like defending a friend threatened in another village. – Mukmin Nantang, founder of Borneo Komrad[1]
Mukmin read voraciously, and as he delved deeper into the issues affecting the nation, his sense of injustice became more pronounced. However, he needed an outlet to channel his growing discontent.
Rebel With A Cause
Mukmin was not always a model student and was once expelled from school. However, as he grew more politically aware, he began channelling his sense of injustice and discontent through involvement in various organisations.
I started a sports club organisation. There was a teacher who supported me. I became the President of the sports club, then I became a peer mentor, and I felt it suited me. There was something I could convey. – Mukmin Nantang, founder of Borneo Komrad[1]
In Form 6, Mukmin met Rahman Imuda, who had similarly listed himself as part of BERSIH in Sabah. Together, they founded Geng Street Dakwah, marking the start of Mukmin’s activism journey.
At University Malaysia Sabah, where he graduated with a degree in Creative Arts majoring in theatre, Mukmin was disillusioned by the student council elections, finding the candidates’ concerns superficial and akin to empty political promises.
I was very angry at the Pro-Mahasiswa, Aspirasi, and Arus Mahasiswa student leaders at the time. I wondered if this was the reality of politics. I wanted to do something so badly that I wanted to start a think tank club at the university. – Mukmin Nantang, founder of Borneo Komrad[1]
Although he faced challenges in registering a think tank club, Mukmin revitalised the Student Literature Club into an arts club for the community, known as Kelab Sastera Mahasiswa (KARMA). When Fahmi Zainol and Anwar Ibrahim visited Sabah in 2014, Mukmin saw it as a chance to engage in broader activism.
Determined to participate in the 2015 BERSIH protest, Mukmin went ahead despite being alone in his efforts.
I told my friend, Haziq, that I wanted to go to the BERSIH demonstration. ‘Do you want to come?’ I asked. ‘It’s okay if you don’t,’ I said, ‘I’ve already packed my clothes. If I get arrested, can you help bring my clothes to the dorm?’ I felt it was that simple. – Mukmin Nantang, founder of Borneo Komrad[1]
In 2016, Mukmin led the Tangkap MO1 demonstration in Sabah, protesting against former Prime Minister Najib Razak’s corruption scandals. The pinnacle of his activism was the “Pandang Ke Sabah” protest in 2018.
I led it completely with other students. We were really disruptive. Even though nothing was broken, the clash with the police was real. The police beat us, we moved forward. There were arrests, handcuffs, and we were detained. That felt symbolic and larger because we organised it. – Mukmin Nantang, founder of Borneo Komrad[1]
Mukmin considered the protest a success, as it highlighted the plight of the stateless and sparked a positive ripple effect for the stateless movement in Sabah.
Justice For The Stateless
At one time, Mukmin Nantang might have been dismissed as a troublemaker, but since 2015, he has been deeply committed to the causes he champions. During his unsuccessful bid for a Student Council seat that year, Mukmin’s manifesto emphasised the need for collaboration between students and the community.
While this vision didn’t materialise within the university, it evolved through his activism. Beyond participating in street protests, Mukmin and his friends began educating children living on the streets of Sabah.
I saw many children wandering around the towns of Tawau, Sandakan, Lahad Datu, and Kota Kinabalu. I wondered why they weren’t attending school, only to learn that they came from poor families, and some were even stateless. – Mukmin Nantang, founder of Borneo Komrad[2]
In 2015, Borneo Komrad was established as a student and youth initiative to advocate for social issues like education, culture, and human rights. Its mission is to provide alternative education to stateless and undocumented children.
For Mukmin, education was not just about learning; it was a crucial tool to combat the social challenges linked to statelessness, such as glue sniffing and petty crime.
This school attracts more students because there are no fees, and registration does not require any documents. – Mukmin Nantang, founder of Borneo Komrad[2]
Initially self-funded for basic supplies, the initiative has grown to include four schools in villages and settlements with stateless children.
Mukmin emphasises that their work goes beyond education; they collect essential documents like village addresses, letters, and evidence to help legitimise the community’s challenges with land and citizenship rights.
This is their land, their place. So, we began searching for evidence. There was an uncle who possessed documents. When we heard his stories, it sparked ideas. We asked the uncle (a resident of Kampung Teluk Layang) to confirm if there were any pieces of evidence. He said, ‘I have a marriage certificate from the 1980s with this village’s address!’ – Mukmin Nantang, founder of Borneo Komrad[1]
A Community Champion Redefining Empathy
In 2018, Mukmin worked full-time with Teach for The Needy Semporna to build schools for local children. He believes that to truly help a community, one must live among them and be part of their lives, rather than imposing solutions from a distance. This philosophy shaped the Sekolah Alternatif syllabus, tailored to meet the community’s specific needs.
As a theatre enthusiast, Mukmin integrated creative elements into the curriculum, focusing not just on reading, writing, and arithmetic, but also on scriptwriting, songwriting, and acting. As part of the Borneo Komrad initiative, the school aims to drive change through arts and literature.
How can we offer them encouragement if we’re not part of their lives? We won’t truly understand their struggles. If we don’t live among them when things get tough, we might get frustrated with them. So, we can’t just swoop in and fight for them. The right approach is to come and live among them first. – Mukmin Nantang, founder of Borneo Komrad[3]
In 2019, when the Teluk Layang settlement faced eviction and demolition without notice, Mukmin and his team chose non-confrontational measures to protect the community, avoiding actions that could exacerbate tensions with authorities.
In Teluk Layang, Kota Kinabalu, it was nearly demolished three times. Whenever Borneo Komrad activists and students were present, it did not happen because we created blockades, protested, and made memorandums. – Mukmin Nantang, founder of Borneo Komrad[1]
Since its inception, Borneo Komrad has expanded its initiatives, including the opening of Sekolah Pemulihan Gam in Semporna and the recent launch of Universiti Alternatif, aimed at providing tertiary education for marginalised communities.
In July 2024, we will launch the Universiti Alternatif. The focus is for them to deepen their knowledge, and learn about their own history, the history of the Bajau Laut, and community rights. This university emphasises the value of knowledge-building without much bureaucracy. – Mukmin Nantang, founder of Borneo Komrad[4]
Mukmin’s activism has matured, but he remains committed to street-level engagement. During the pandemic, he led demonstrations in Tawau during an enhanced lockdown, and in 2024, he protested against water shortages at his alma mater.
Putting His Life On The Line
If we don’t fight today, tomorrow, and the day after – oppressed, oppressed, oppressed again! – Mukmin Nantang, founder of Borneo Komrad[4]
Over the years, Mukmin Nantang has been a steadfast advocate for the marginalised Bajau Laut community. Recently, after their homes were torched and demolished, old videos resurfaced showing Mukmin rallying the community to resist such injustices.
Their way of life has been encroached upon for a long time. They were forced to move to the land,” said Mukmin. “Now, their lives are being destroyed again, and they are not provided with alternative shelters. Where are they supposed to go? – Mukmin Nantang, founder of Borneo Komrad[5]
Despite facing personal risks, including arrests and questioning, Mukmin has found strong support for his cause. His focus has always been on ensuring that youth receive fundamental education, believing that they will be the ones to fight for their rights in the future.
It’s not about me; what’s important is that these healthy and intelligent children will eventually contribute to the future. They are the ones who will change their fate and defend their community. – Mukmin Nantang, founder of Borneo Komrad[2]
As Mukmin travels through various villages, protests are erupting, with communities fervently defending their lands.
In Kota Belud, there is even a large sign at the entrance of the village that says, ‘Our land, our life.’ It’s still there to this day. So I thought, ‘Wow! (This) is continuous protest.’ – Mukmin Nantang, founder of Borneo Komrad[1]
With growing attention to the plight of the stateless, more alternative educational initiatives have emerged. Mukmin’s mission has been clear: to show that Borneo Komrad schools can achieve remarkable success even with limited resources and to challenge the notion that government intervention is necessary for impactful outcomes.
We are here to fight. We aim to show that schools can be established by young people and students without government assistance. In fact, if the government were involved, the outcomes could be even more impactful. – Mukmin Nantang, founder of Borneo Komrad[5]
With unwavering determination, Mukmin Nantang continues to lead the charge, committed to addressing long-overlooked injustices in the state.
Explore our sources:
- Pusat Sejarah Rakyat. (2024). DEMO#10 | Mukmin Nantang: Dari Pendidikan ke Pergerakan. Link
- Dahali, R. (2022). ‘Sekolah jalanan’ anak miskin. Berita Harian. Link
- Ku Fozi, K.S. (2024). Pedagogi anak tertindas: Kisah Mukmin Nantang dan pendidikan alternatifnya. Relevan. Link
- Ku Fozi, K.S. (2024). Dari sekolah menjadi Universiti Alternatif. Relevan. Link
- Marsden, H. (2024). The campaign of destruction against ‘sea gypsies’. The Week. Link
