SHAH ALAM: Olympian Noraseela Khalid was elated after the Shah Alam High Court ruled in her favour today, declaring that the management body of her condominium in Kelana Jaya could not impose an unconditional ban on keeping pets in private residential units.
The court partly allowed Noraseela’s application against the Joint Management Body (JMB) of Shang Villa, ruling that House Rule 9.0 could not be used to prevent her from keeping her three cats in her unit.
House Rule 9.0 concerns the keeping of animals within the condominium and was relied upon by the JMB to restrict residents from keeping pets.
The decision is significant for pet owners living in strata properties, where management bodies have often imposed restrictions on animals through house rules.
Noraseela filed the case at the Shah Alam High Court on Jan 26, 2026, after the JMB sought to prevent her from keeping her cats.
Her lawyer, Rajesh Nagarajan, said the ruling reaffirmed that management bodies could not use house rules to override statutory provisions or impose restrictions beyond the powers conferred by law.
Judge Datuk Anita Harun held that the mere presence of a pet in a residential unit did not, in itself, constitute a breach of the house rules. Any enforcement action must instead be based on By-law 14 of the Strata Management (Maintenance and Management) Regulations 2015 and supported by evidence.
Rajesh said the court also found that the evidence did not establish that Noraseela’s cats were responsible for the incidents cited by the JMB. These included allegations that the cats were not properly cared for and had dirtied the common area.
Evidence from her neighbour supported Noraseela’s account that the cats were properly cared for, while veterinary certificates indicated that they were in good health.
The court also declared invalid and unenforceable those parts of House Rule 9.0 which purported to allow animals to be removed from common property without reference to their owners and to exclude liability for any resulting loss, insofar as these provisions displaced the requirements, notice procedures and safeguards under By-law 14 for a proprietor’s animal.
The court recognised that the word “may” in By-law 14 permits preventive action where there is a factual basis for concern. Management bodies need not wait for actual harm to occur, but cannot act on assumptions or generalised complaints.
“The decision is expected to have wider implications for residents of strata developments across Malaysia, where disputes over pet ownership frequently arise between individual proprietors and management bodies,” Rajesh said.
“It reinforces the principle that the powers of JMBs and management corporations are subject to the Strata Management Act 2013 and its prescribed by-laws, and that the preferences of the majority cannot override the legal protections afforded to individual proprietors.”
Noraseela said she hoped the judgment would serve as a point of reference for other residents facing similar restrictions.
“I hope this judgment can be used as a precedent for other strata properties. It is sad to have to experience such behaviour by JMBs, management corporations (MCs) and management offices,” said Noraseela, a former national hurdler who competed in the 2012 London Olympics.
“Such conduct creates unnecessary difficulties for good people and residents who simply want a peaceful and harmonious home for everyone.
“As an animal lover, this is a wonderful day as it helps protect our rights and those of our pets,” she told Twentytwo13.
Rajesh said the decision was an important reminder that responsible pet ownership and harmonious community living were not mutually exclusive.
Noraseela is also involved in another case against the Selangor government and the Petaling Jaya City Council over a blanket ban on dogs in strata residential properties. The case is scheduled to be heard in January 2027.
