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PETALING JAYA: Bukit Gasing Assemblyman Rajiv Rishyakaran urged the government to establish a landlord-tenant court, saying it can speed up the resolution of complaints between the parties.
He said the process is cost-effective and time-efficient, saving plaintiffs the burden of tedious legal procedures.
Rajiv said that countries like the UK, New Zealand and South Africa have established similar courts and Malaysia should do the same.
“Some even have specific laws and legislation on the lease itself,” he said.
He said that while the court was not the ultimate solution to rent discrimination, it could mitigate the racial profiling used by landlords to protect their investments.
“A common complaint shared by many landlords is the widespread belief that Indians never pay their rent on time. Indian tenants also seem inclined to damage the property.
“Many people have expressed their experiences of being denied rent just because of this profile,” he said.
He jokingly said that, as a previous tenant, he had his Chinese friends make arrangements to avoid the apprehensions of the owners.
When asked if an anti-discrimination law would mitigate the situation, Rajiv said it was easier for owners to keep their options closed than to risk dealing with a system that takes too long to implement.
“Even if the racial preferences in the listings are not explicitly stated, agents are quick to turn away a prospective tenant when they find out he is Indian,” he said.
He said the court would function as a safety net for both landlords and tenants.
“Eliminating concerns and uncertainties will help eliminate a large part of racial prejudice, as everyone is responsible for their actions.”
In August, an academic and two politicians warned the government against hoping that a new law alone would end racial discrimination in the rental market.
This followed an announcement by the National Housing Department that a law was being prepared, which would become known as the Residential Leasing Law.
