YOURSAY | ‘Many of our laws need to be overhauled and updated.’

COMMENT | Will Residential Tenancy Act stop racism in property market?

BusinessFirst: I agree with columnist S Thayaparan - discrimination against people because of race is unacceptable.

If a person can pay the rent and is fit and proper - in that they are not likely to damage the property - then there is no reason why race needs to come into the picture.

Having said that, I am not sure how the Residential Tenancy Act is going to work or be policed.

If they are going to legislate something like this, I think we should use the opportunity to overhaul and update many of our laws as well.

One would be to make it easier for parties to get back possession of the property after you have leased it out and the tenant does not, in the end, want to leave or worse, the tenant does not pay rent and is in breach of the terms of the lease.

At present, it is quite difficult compared to many of our jurisdictions to recover our property from such tenants.

I think that if it were simpler to recover one's property if there is a breach, it might help the situation.

Right now, there is a lot of prejudice surrounding people of all races and lowering the stakes may help. Just my two cents worth.

VioletCondor6908: The government that was elected by the people wishes to put an end to discrimination in renting out properties to prospective tenants without racial discrimination.

For example, a property owner should not state or want to rent to a particular race only.

However, racism is all-pervading and prevalent in all other sectors in Malaysia.

Look at educational opportunities, employment in government agencies, allocation of business licences, right to easy bank loans, allocation of new low-cost housing and others.

I can't say more, since I may be whacked from all quarters like that poor girl at the dialogue session with Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at Kolej Matrikulasi Pulau Pinang in Kepala Batas on Aug 5.

Mano: In Malaysia, Malays will hesitate to rent out to Chinese and Indians. The Chinese will hesitate to rent out to Malays and Indians. Indians will hesitate to rent out to fellow Indians and Malays.

All Malaysians hesitate to rent out to foreigners, worse the darker-skinned foreigners.

What we do need is a strong mini-court or ombudsperson body for tenants/would-be tenants and homeowners.

They can bring their grouses and losses to be addressed and the penalties imposed and losses recovered. That should be a strong deterrent. I could be wrong.

I must admit I am scared to rent out properties to some segments of society.

The potential tenants look like compliant church mice when trying to get in.

Once in, the homeowner is the one who needs to maintain decorum and diplomacy to heightened levels just to get the monthly rental, ensure utilities are paid and ensure the property is not damaged.

I admit I have karma hitting me back, where young relatives are having difficulties getting a place to stay based on properties for rent to only a particular race.

If there is a strong government-backed body, akin to an ombudsperson for rental properties, many in society will feel secure to rent out without too many reservations.

I believe the Australian and UK property tenants and owners are covered well under some act by the government.

Of course, due diligence should be finally from the homeowner, whatever there is that the homeowners and tenants can fall back on.

ScarletPuma5866: We are against anti-racism legislation in this free property market situation.

If you want to eliminate racism, first please legislate anti-racism against the New Economic Policy, bumiputera-policies, and preferential treatment, to name a few.

About the rental market, we are against it because certain individual tenants are a pain.

We don't want these immoral tenants taking advantage of the legislation and bullying the property owners.

Another reason is that the properties are privately owned, and it is up to the owner's liking. Period.

BluePanther4725: Agree. I don't think the law should interfere with the personal choices of people, such as marrying people of your race, making friends with those of your race, living with people of your race, etc.

It seems racist, but it is still personal freedom and choice. However, the government should set a good example by being inclusive, not harping on race and religious issues and not discriminating against any race.

Over time, people will become more civilised and see beyond race and religion.

Our racist policies of many years have reinforced racism and fear in us such that many of us don't trust those from different races.

In schools, our children were polarised and race and religious segregation were reinforced.

We have been conditioned to be racist from a young age.

MS: Seriously, Malaysia was founded and thrives on and is sustained by racial policies and tribal instincts.

The country's major political parties are race-based, promote racial awareness and shape policies executed by the mostly Malay civil service and the many, many official practices that normalise racism.

Many Malaysians (meaning those in the majority) believe in "good racism" clothed as quotas and the like.

Then, of course, there is "bad racism" which this proposed piece of legislation hopes to counter. Will it work? No.

This is because good racism normalised by everyone will always fuel bad racism and keep it alive.

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