Local Nigerians react to banners with disgust

PETALING JAYA: “This is racism.”

This is how Nigerian students studying in Malaysia responded to attempts to ban them from certain condominiums in the Klang Valley.

Banners urging residents to support this anti-African movement have cropped up.

“The people who did this are not treating us like human beings,” said Nigerian student Austin Chibuzo, 25, in a report by Star Online.

Chibuzo had moved into Waja Apartments in Cheras three months ago.

The residents there have put up a banner showing the image of a dark-skinned male with a large yellow “X” with the words “Say No To African People”.

Nigerian student Victor Onuoha, 25, also said Malaysians were prejudiced against Africans.

“Malaysians in general behave awkwardly with African people. When we go into lifts, some will close their noses.”

Onuoha said the banner was contrary to how Malaysia is depicted worldwide, as a harmonious, multiracial and friendly country.

Most of the Africans in Malaysia are students and professionals from Ghana, Mali and Nigeria.

In the past, various Internet scams involving Africans have sullied their image in the eyes of Malaysians.

Mohamad Sahidan Hassan, chairman of the Waja Apartment’s management corporation, said the banner was a reflection of the residents’ feelings.

“We have received many complaints about the behaviour of African tenants.

“We have been accused of being biased, but we allow Indonesians, Myanmars, Vietnamese, Bangladeshis and Arabs to stay among us.

“But many Africans staying here are rowdy.”

One of the 14 people responsible for putting up the banner denied the banner reeked of racism.

Wan Rosdie Yusri, 38, claimed the Immigration Department raided the apartments in 2010 and two truckloads of Africans were detained for not having valid travel documents.

He said frequent brawls occurred at an African cafe there and a resident complained that an African had tried to snatch her handbag from her car a month ago.

“We are also worried about the legal status of the African tenants who occupy 15 out of 440 units,” he said and hoped the Immigration Department would conduct a raid soon.

Residents Association Chairman Salim Abas, 47, said many of the Africans disturbed women living in the apartment.

“They bring their girlfriends and drink liquor at the children’s park. We have held dialogues with them about their inappropriate behaviour but they don’t change.”

But not all Malaysians are in favour of the anti-African banner. One of them, Alias, said residents should not generalise and say all Africans are bad.

The newspaper reported that such banners against Africans had cropped up in Shah Alam and the Sunway area as well.