He fought first for a MyKad, then for his people

Paulus Balan endured a prolonged struggle for identification documents, starting at age 24 when he first received his MyKad after a six-year wait. Growing up in the Sarawak interior, he faced difficulties obtaining basic papers due to the two-day jungle walk and three-day boat ride from his village to the nearest town. As a fifth of six siblings, Paulus aspired to become a teacher but required identification to continue his education.

Obtaining a birth certificate and MyKad took nearly six years, leaving him uncertain about his future. After securing a position as a temporary teacher, he encountered another setback when the Sa'ban community was misclassified as non-Bumiputera, despite their shared roots with the Kelabit people. Paulus and other community members formed a committee to prove their identity, leading to their official recognition as Bumiputera in 2022.

Despite this victory, Paulus remains committed to ensuring other Sa'ban members receive proper documentation, as many still lack MyKads. With only 500 Sa'ban officially recorded out of an estimated 2,000, Paulus fears younger generations may lose touch with their culture and history. He views Malaysia Day as an opportunity to recognize and value all communities, emphasizing that every group merits attention to prevent their disappearance.