Last Modified: 14 May 2011 05:29, AlJazeera

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Hundreds of thousands of undocumented migrants from the Philippines are stranded in Sabah, Malaysia without government recognition or legal rights. They’ve become a vital part of the local economy, but without documentation or paperwork they can’t get support from either government. One young man told Al Jazeera, “I was born here, so I guess I am Malaysian”, but he lives without citizenship or recognition. These young people are left vulnerable after the Malaysian government rounds up and deports their parents who are immigrated without legal documentation. While their children are sometimes forced into crime to earn a living, negative stereotypes poison chances for gaining ground. As another non-citizen in Sabah explained, “We have no documents. It’s easy to blame things on us.” Al Jazeera’s Marga Ortigas reports from Sabah, Malaysia.