'Some landlords against no-Africans move'

Not all unit owners in Ridzuan Condominium are supportive of the Joint Management Board’s (JMB) decision to ban ‘Africans’ from residing in the building, two tenants have claimed.

Paul Kaen, a Nigerian student, told Malaysiakini that he has not been given any notice to vacate his unit in the condo, in Bandar Sunway, Selangor. 

"Some landlords told us they are not happy about the development, you know," he said, also noting that ‘Africans’ have a tendency to pay the rent in advance. 

He explained that it is “African culture” to value the place of stay, “even more than filling our stomachs”. 

However, Kaen said he is prepared to move out because he feels “deeply hurt by the racist ruling”. 

He claimed that he and other Nigerians have experienced many instances of racism while living in Malaysia since February 2011. 

While saying that some Nigerians have behaved in a "rowdy" fashion when consuming alcohol at the void deck, he noted that it is wrong to generalise that “all Africans are bad”. 

Mohammed Nurhu, also from Nigeria, said he has been renting a unit at the condo for three years now.

Although he is prepared to leave, he said his landlord is not happy to see him go because he pays RM1,500 a month - RM200 more than the average rate. 

"Most of the landlords are against this actually," said Mohammed, a business administration student. 

He agreed that, apart from "some rowdy people loitering downstairs", the condo is a good and safe place in which to stay.