“There’s a thin line between racism and discrimination. One bad person doesn’t equate to an entire community,” she said during an exclusive interview with FMT.

She was responding to a recent report where residents at Waja Apartments in Taman Tun Perak, Cheras had openly displayed a banner with the words “Say No to African People”.
The banners have also urged realtors to refrain from renting condominium units to African tenants.

Henry, who is also the co-founder of Fugee School – which provides education for stateless and refugee children – explained that globalisation has resulted in the migration of people from various nationalities, races and cultures into Malaysia.

“Of course, there have been issues where large communities will flock to a certain area and stay there. Sometimes, some of the people engage in illicit activities.

“But at the end of the day, one bad apple shouldn’t spoil the whole bunch.
“If there are a few people who are doing something that’s wrong, then they should be penalised. However, you can’t punish everyone for the mistakes of others.”

She criticised the action of displaying racist banners in residential areas as unhealthy, saying that instead, these issues need to be dealt with appropriately.

“I don’t think it’s a healthy thing because that is the beginning of what is to come.

“It comes down to everyone working together and the authorities must identify the issue and get to the bottom of it.

Earlier this week, it was reported that such banners against Africans had cropped up in Shah Alam and the Sunway area as well.

The banners have received a strong backlash from the African community, with one individual  pointing out that the banner was contrary to how Malaysia was depicted worldwide as a harmonious, multiracial and a friendly country.

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