TOURISM, Arts, and Culture Minister (Motac) Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing slammed his Sabah counterpart, Datuk Christina Liew, today over the state's plans to proceed with its own Malaysia MySecond Home (MM2H) programme.
Ting said the Sabah tourism, culture, and environment minister had misled the public with her accusations.
"I must stress that the renewal of MM2H visas is unrelated to agent permits. We want agents to have transparency, including in the collection of application fees upon approval,” he said on Facebook.
Agents must apply to Motac for new permits under the new regulations. Existing agents will not be recognised; all expired permits must be reissued after strict background checks," Tiong said on social media today.
Liew had accused Motac of derailing the Sabah-version of the programme.
Tiong said re-registration is required to stop the problems of agents subletting their permits or absconding with the fees.
Tiong said the federal cabinet had already decided to allow Sabah and Sarawak autonomy over the matter. He plans to meet with the chief ministers of both states.
Tiong urged Liew to meet with Motac to understand the situation and avoid misleading the public.
"Despite multiple invitations, the Sabah minister has not deemed it necessary to discuss the MM2H matter. She has rarely attended meetings convened by the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture," said Tiong, adding that as a result Liew does not fully grasp the issues.
"This is not about assigning blame but ensuring that policies are followed before making criticisms. Tourism policies are crucial for national safety and reputation.
“If basic tasks are not properly handled, it will be difficult to attract foreign investors. While Liew may take credit for bringing visitors to Sabah, the safety of tourists must come first," he said.
"I advise Liew to focus on tourism safety issues before rushing to criticise.” – June 9, 2024.
