KUALA LUMPUR – The government will be reviewing the requirements and criteria set out in the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) “to be more competitive”.
The programme will remain under the purview of Tourism Malaysia, which is tasked to promote and make recommendations after screening applicants via the MM2H one-stop centres.
This came after a discussion yesterday between Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing and Home Ministry Secretary-General Datuk Ruji Ubi.
Those interested in the MM2H programme will be able to get relevant information via the one-stop centre, which will also facilitate the applications to the Home Ministry and Immigration Department.
Also discussed was the visa-on-arrival (VOA) facility, especially for tourists from China and India.
While the Home Ministry has agreed that it is good to continue to stimulate the country's tourism industry, the programme will need further review.
Tiong said in a statement that Asean countries, especially Indonesia, have provided VOA to many other countries and Malaysia should expedite this to ensure its tourism industry remains competitive.
Tiong’s ministry and the Home Ministry will be bringing these up during the cabinet meeting for the next course of action.
Previously, Penang and Langkawi leaders and travel industry stakeholders urged the Home Ministry to ease the conditions the previous government had imposed on the MM2H scheme.
According to the MM2H Consultant Association, stricter conditions have caused a 90% drop in the number of MM2H applicants after the conditions were introduced back in 2021, and these unnecessary barriers have hindered attracting long-term foreign residents since. – The Vibes, April 19, 2023
