PETALING JAYA: Stories about Malaysians facing discrimination when looking for a place to rent are sadly common. A quick visit to any local rental website will, more often than not, reveal numerous listings stating the preference for a certain race.
Even if it isn’t explicitly stated, one is most likely to be asked for one’s race upon contacting the agent.
The Ministry of Housing and Local Government has proposed the Residential Tenancy Act (RTA), reportedly to be tabled in parliament in the first quarter of next year, which is said to protect the interests of both landlords and tenants.
While the RTA is a step in the right direction, perhaps the real question should be, why can’t people do the right thing without being told?
Jayaaprianka Palanesamy responded to an ad on a rental website and was all set to move in, only to be informed by one of the tenants at the last minute that she was no longer welcome to stay with them, despite having paid the deposit.
“I had packed all my things and even booked a Grab ride to the apartment in Wangsa Maju. It was so frustrating and heartbreaking,” says the 27-year-old nurse.
“Imagine being far away from home, in the midst of moving from one rented unit to the next, only to be told at the eleventh hour that you can’t move in because of your race. How is this fair?” she laments, adding that she was left in the lurch without a place to stay on a workday.
Jayaaprianka says while it was a painful and unforgettable experience, she was thankful to have been able to stay at a friend’s place while she hunted for accommodation that “accepts people like me”.
“What’s wrong with living with an Indian person? We are also human beings. I’ve always paid my rent on time,” she tells FMT, pointing out that it is absurd to be rejected for something she should not be ashamed of.
Adam (not his real name) says he gets questions about his race and nationality almost every time he speaks to a landlord or property agent in the Klang Valley.
“After seeing my surname, I’d inevitably be asked about what I am and where I’m from,” he says, adding that he would never hear back from the agents.
According to the 28-year-old, who is of mixed parentage, some agents have asked for the name of the company he works at, while some even asked to see his employment offer letter.
“Once I stopped giving out information that suggested I wasn’t a typical Chinese, I’d get more appointments with less hassle,” he says, before pointing out that “prices are also more negotiable if you play the ‘local Chinese’ card”.
Some agents openly admit that landlords are only interested in renting the place to him because he looks Chinese.
“I still remember what one agent said to me: ‘We don’t allow cooking but since you’re Chinese, it’s okay. We don’t want foreigners and Indians to make the place smelly with their cooking.’
“I think the most annoying part is that you have no choice but to play the game. A landlord can withstand having an empty unit a lot longer than I can hold off not having a roof over my head.”
Banu Jane Jothimalarr faced discrimination while looking for places to rent in Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur, but claims things are a lot worse in Seremban.
“Out of 24 listings that I contacted, only five were willing to rent to Indians. One agent even told me the owner doesn’t want to rent out to Indians because the house ‘will smell Indian’.
“It’s very sad. It’s like everything I’ve ever worked for and accomplished is reduced to something about myself that I can’t change – something I should actually be proud of,” says the 31-year-old, who has two master’s degrees.
Banu is furious over how these practices are acceptable in Malaysia and strongly feels there should be laws that prohibit such practices.
“It should be illegal to deny people the opportunity for shelter. How does that not go against my rights as a human being?”
Overwhelmed with the stress of finding a place to stay and dealing with rude agents, Banu was reduced to tears earlier in the morning of her interview with FMT.
“Just because I’m Indian, I’m not eligible for homes. I’m so mad and heartbroken that people have to go through this in this day and age. It’s absolutely disgusting.”
At the end of the day, landlords should mainly be concerned about receiving the rent on time and ensuring their properties are looked after. Does prejudice have to play a part?
Instead of criticising politicians for playing the race card at every opportunity, perhaps it’s time for certain Malaysians to do some self-reflection.
And in the meantime, those who practise acceptance and the spirit of “kita jaga kita” should speak up for those who are discriminated against. - FMT
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