Landlord refuse to return my deposit after I moved out, what can I do?

Before court, try one firm but polite final message stating you know your rights and will file at Mahkamah Tuntutan Kecil. Sometimes that alone works, saves everyone time. If you a lower income, you can also get free advice from the Legal Aid Bureau (Biro Bantuan Guaman) or the Bar Council legal aid centre. Just remember this is general info, your actual agreement wording matters a lot, so let a legal aid officer read your specific contract.

I did the small claims thing (Tuntutan Kecil) for a similar deposit issue. The form is simple, you file at the Mahkamah Majistret, pay a small fee, and they set a hearing date. My landlord got the summons and settled before we even went to court because he knew he had no case. Bring all your evidence neat and printed. One tip: keep every message and never delete the WhatsApp thread, that chat log was my strongest proof. It took a couple months but I got my money back.

You have options, don't just eat the loss. Currently Malaysia has no dedicated Residential Tenancy Act yet (it's been proposed for years), so deposit disputes are governed by your tenancy agreement and general contract law. Steps I'd take: (1) Send a formal written demand letter, state the amount, give a deadline (say 14 days), and mention you'll pursue legal action. Keep proof of delivery. (2) Gather evidence: the signed agreement, photos of the clean unit when you left, handover records, and all his messages. (3) If he still ignores, file a claim in the Small Claims procedure at the Magistrates Court for amounts up to RM5000, where you don't need a lawyer and fees are low. RM3000 is well within that. Many landlords suddenly pay once they receive the court notice. Please verify the current small claims limit and procedure on the official court or a legal aid source before filing, rules do get updated.