Disclaimer: In Real Life is a platform for everyday people to share their experiences and voices. All articles are personal stories and do not necessarily echo In Real Life’s sentiments.
What would you need to know before renting your property to someone? That they will be able to pay their rent on time and that they don’t have any previous track record of damaging property. That’s about it, no?
It’s a shame that the question “What race are you?” is such a commonly asked one here in Malaysia when it comes to renting property. Admittedly, most Malaysians who are of Malay or Chinese descent don’t think much of it, we do after all have the “correct” answer.
Special request: Malay or Chinese only
David is a Penangite who wrote in to In Real Life with his experience. He was looking for a place to rent with his family when he stumbled upon a property he was interested in. Upon contacting the agent, he quickly realised that his ethnicity was going to be an issue with this agent.
The agent told David that the owner of the house specifically requested that their tenant be of Chinese or Malay ethnicity only, to which David responded with “No worries, a lot of Chinese owners are racist. Their loss.”
Unfortunately, his claims are not untrue. Just a quick google search and you will be able to find many similar instances, including this one reported on the New Straits Times where a man was kicked out of his rented room two weeks AFTER moving in because his landlord suddenly ‘changed her mind’ and prefers Chinese tenants.
A 2-minute long excuse
David’s reply prompted the agent to send him a 2-minute long voice message “explaining” why the owner does not want Indian tenants.
In the voice message, the agent offers her personal experience with renting to an Indian tenant. She mentions that her father used to rent a double-storey property at Simpang Empat to a small Indian family who “looked very kind”.
She said that the family did not pay their rent on time and delayed payment for up to 3 months. She also claims that when the family finally moved out, they purposely damaged the ceilings and piping on the property.
The agent then makes a very bold statement.
“Some more, Indian people are mabuk kaki. If mabuk kaki, you will disturb the neighbours.”
She digs the hole deeper by saying “Indians once they mabuk and drink, they will kacau and then fight.”
She ends the message by saying “Don’t misunderstand and say that Chinese owners are racist because you must understand what is the reason.” She ends the voice message sweetly with a “Okay ya, sorry.” A bit of a redundant and insincere sounding apology, like giving someone a plaster after breaking their arm.
How long will this ignorance continue?
Stereotyping and profiling people based on their race is an act that should’ve been left behind decades ago. It is understandable to evict a tenant because they do not pay rent on time but to boil it down to their race and then bring that perception forward to future tenants? Ugly.
To say “it’s time we learn to do better,” is not quite it because we should’ve learned this a long time ago – this type of behaviour should not exist anymore! What will it take for Malaysians to rid themselves of this damaging and backward mentality?
Know anyone with an interesting story to share? Drop us an email at ym.efillaerni@olleh and we may feature the story!
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