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.