The Ridzuan Condominium's policy not to rent out units to all "Africans" is still racist even though their grouses are understandable, said PKR Seri Setia assemblyperson Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad today.

NONE He was responding to a statement by MCA leader Loh Seng Kok, who said that since the policy was passed by the the condominium's decision making committee, it is contradictory to accuse Malaysians of being racist.

"The ban is obviously a blanket ban on Africans as a community. That is racism," Nik Nazmi ( left ) said in a statement.

"Evaluating someone based on their race and not their personality is racism," he added.

Nik Nazmi, who is the assemblyperson where the condominium is located, said that even though the policy to ban all Africans was passed by the Joint Management Board (JMB) with approval from the residents, the decision could still be challenged in court.

The PKR leader argued that discriminatory policies could also be introduced through the guise of democracy.

"The White Australia policy that discriminated against non-whites coming to Australia between 1901 to 1973 was also introduced as part of democracy," he noted.

"Apartheid was introduced in South Africa after the party that offered the policy won the elections in 1948," he added.