If you’re new in town, finding a place to rent can be daunting, and it gets even tougher when landlords say they “prefer only certain races.”
With racial discrimination on the rise, politician Syarleena Abdul Rashid took to social media to highlight the issue, urging landlords to stop rejecting Indian tenants.
In her video, Syarleena, who is also the Member of Parliament for Bukit Bendera, Penang—acknowledged that landlords have the right to keep their properties clean and well-maintained, especially if they’ve had bad experiences in the past.
However, she stressed that this is not a valid reason to reject Indian tenants, or anyone else, based on race.
“This does not reflect Malaysia’s pluralistic culture. Property owners should allow people of all races to rent their spaces,” she said.
“At the same time, they should be firm and use existing laws to take action against tenants who break the rules.”
If landlords feel current laws aren’t sufficient, Syarleena suggested drafting better regulations to ensure both parties are protected under the rental agreement.
“Tenants will be more careful if clearer and stronger laws are in place, especially if they risk penalties for damaging property,” she added.
What do you think of Syarleena’s stance? Have you faced challenges while trying to rent a place? Share your experience with us.
