The column reflects the view of the writer
By Tharmini Kenas
RACE is one of the many taboo subjects that we are careful to talk about publicly in Malaysia. With the recent changes that happened, race and certain privileges that come with it are being discussed and debated openly.
So, let’s look at the rental market. The rental market is full of racism which can be summed up in just two words: ‘Chinese only’ or ‘Malay only’ or ‘Indian only’.
For someone who is looking for a place to rent, usually under short notice, seeing these words can be very frustrating. No amount of talking or begging will change the mind of the landlords.
Young university students, working adults, families and older people are all subjected to race-based conditions of the landlords. This is not the way forward, especially in multiracial Malaysia.
Such conditions pave the way towards a discriminatory society. A biased society usually consists of backward thinking people who judge blindly and generalise randomly.
Zooming out, we are currently facing racial issues with regards to New Malaysia. From UiTM to the new Education minister to the new AG, racial issues are more pronounced now than before.
From race-based quota in tertiary institutions to the renting of property, racial issues are rearing their ugly heads time and again.
Progressive mindsets that do not hope for racial privileges and willing to delete the ‘Chinese only’ or ‘Malay only’ or ‘Indian only’ wordings under the property description will be the way forward for New Malaysia.
Let’s not judge the whole race based on a few rotten eggs and most importantly, let’s put merit before race, always.
