ABOUT 200 Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) visa holders are stuck abroad because of the movement-control order (MCO), which prohibits entry by foreigners into the country.

MM2H director Sharifah Ikhlas Syed Ismail Al-Jaffree told The Malaysian Insight these 200-odd expats are desperately seeking to return to Malaysia, adding that there may be more stuck overseas.

“According to our records, about 200 have requested (to come back to Malaysia), but we estimate there are more,” Sharifah said.

MM2H Agents Association president Lim Kok Sai said those who have requested help to return are between 100 and 200 people, and their details have already been forwarded to the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry.

“During the second phase of the MCO, around early April, the ministry asked about those holding MM2H visas and who expressed a desire to return to Malaysia.

“They include those who are now stuck in Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan, etc,” Lim said.

Visa holders are getting mixed signals from the government, which granted them long-term residency permits, but are now barring their return.

“They’re wondering if Malaysia actually wants them to stay in this country,” Lim said.

He urged the Home Ministry and the National Security Council to draft procedures to allow MM2H visa holders to return, adding that this will continue to attract foreigners to make Malaysia their second home.

“Some of them had travelled to Singapore or were holidaying in Japan before the MCO was enforced or had returned to their original homes. Some were also affected by flight cancellations.

“We understand the government’s and the people’s concerns about the pandemic, but it’s been a long time and the Covid-19 situation in Malaysia seems to be under control, they (MM2H visa holders) should be allowed back in.

‘Since the costs of isolation are to be borne by themselves, the government should allow them to return and have them self-quarantined for 14 to 20 days.

“MM2H visa holders are highly educated, belong to the higher income group and have ample knowledge on public health and hygiene. The government should take this into consideration when deciding to allow them return.”

Lim said since Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin’s announcement that interstate travel is allowed for spouses forced to live apart due to the MCO, similar measures should be allowed for MM2H visa holders.

The MCO was enforced on March 18 to break the chain of the coronavirus infections. Covid-19 has so far sickened 6,819 and killed 112.

The stringent MCO rules were recently eased to allow businesses to operate but with strict social-distancing measures.

Lim suggested that the government allow 50 to return first and later, make arrangements to cater for the rest.

MM2H Agents Association vice-president Anthony Liew said most of those requesting to return to Malaysia are from the US, Europe and Japan.

But other sources told The Malaysian Insight that even those from the UK, Canada and Australia have made such requests and they number more than 200.

MM2H visa holders from China typically engage middlemen to apply for their visas but those from Western countries generally prefer to apply directly.

“This could be because the Covid-19 situation in the US and UK is serious, hence they want to be in Malaysia. In contrast, not many in China have applied to return,” Liew said.

All those who have residency and property records in Malaysia can be tracked down easily during and after their quarantine period.

MM2H is part of efforts to attract more foreign-direct investment, tourism and boost economic development by encouraging high-income foreigners to make Malaysia their second home.

It’s low application threshold, easy procedures and preferential treatment have attracted many foreigners to apply. – May 15, 2020.