At Subang condo, ban against ‘African’ tenants
Ridzuan Condominium residents had voted against renting their units to ‘African’ tenants. — Pictures by Choo Choy May
(The Malay Mail) – “African” tenants at a Bandar Sri Subang condominium here have three months to vacate their units after the building’s management slapped an unprecedented occupancy ban on them last week.
The decision came after the majority of Ridzuan Condominium residents voted in an annual general meeting (AGM) held on July 6 against renting their units to foreigners from the continent, whom they allege to have “caused a lot of nuisance”.
The Malay Mail Online sighted a copy of the memo circulated to Ridzuan residents explaining the ban, which has also been making the rounds online through Facebook.
“We refer to the above matter without prejudice and without malice,” the memo dated August 19 started.
“As a result of the decision held in the AGM on 6th July 2013, the majority of the residents voted in the AGM to not letting their units for rental to Africans any more.”
According to the memo, the presence of Africans has created “a lot of nuisance and problems to the community”, which in turn has driven down the property value of units there.
It further asserts that owners have found it difficult to rent out or sell their units to other prospective customers due to the alleged situation.
The memo on the move banning the renting of units to ‘African’ tenants affixed to a notice board at Ridzuan Condominium
“It was also resolved during the AGM that any resident who has an African tenant is to cancel the rental and to vacate them from their units within three (3) months from the date of this letter,” it added.
It did not, however, specify the course of action — if any — that would be taken by the management should an owner or African tenant fail to comply.
It was also unclear how they plan to enforce the ban, with the only criterion being “African”.
The circular neglected to specify if this ban will apply along the lines of ethnicity or nationality, nor does it mention who would be the final arbiter should any party dispute the “African” label.
The memo was signed by a Jerry Low Boon Chay, who was named as chairman of Joint Management Body (JMB) of Ridzuan Condominium.
A member of the JMB, who refused to be named, confirmed the authenticity of the memo to The Malay Mail Online through a phone call last week, and admitted to sending the memo to residents on behalf of Low.
During a subsequent visit to the condominium on Saturday, The Malay Mail Online discovered the same memo affixed to a notice board within the grounds of the property.
Ridzuan is a 14-year-old condominium situated near the PJS10 lake park, with units from 590-sq ft; rental starts from RM1,300 a month.
