PUTRAJAYA will reactivate the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme with the Immigration Department set to process new applications from October, Home Ministry secretary-general Wan Ahmad Dahlan said today.
 
However, the programme, which is aimed at attracting well-heeled foreigners to set up home here, will come with new conditions and restrictions on the number of people to be allowed to make Malaysia their second home.
 
The government had temporarily paused new applications for the programme last July following the closure of the country’s borders.

In the meantime, the Tourism, Arts and Culture as well as the Home Ministries had reviewed the programme.
 
Wan Ahmad Dahlan said the cabinet has agreed to the proposal to refine a new policy for the MM2H programme as it is seen as a strategy that could potentially spur the economy as part of the National Recovery Plan.
 
Therefore, he said the Immigration Department will process new applications from October onwards once all legal processes are completed.
 
Wan Ahmad Dahlan said Putrajaya is also cognisant of the people’s concerns that these may lead to an “influx of foreigners in the country”.
 
“Therefore, the government has decided to introduce and set a ceiling for participants (principal and dependents) that the number should not exceed 1% of the Malaysian population at a time,” he said.
 
He added that an online system will be set up to improve the application process and serve as a database.
 
Apart from that, he also announced new conditions for the programme. These include:
 
1. The participant must reside in Malaysia for at least 90 days a year;

2. The minimum offshore income of the participant must be RM40,000 compared to RM10,000 previously;

3. Participants should have a minimum of RM1 million in their fixed savings account and a withdrawal of up to 50% from the principal amount is allowed for the purchase of property or health and children’s education;

4. Two categories of applicants: Those aged between 35 and 49 years old and those aged 50 and above;

5. Social Visit Pass will be valid for five years and can be extended for five years or more as long as the participant fulfils the requirements;

6. Renewal of passes, changes of principal, citizenship and dependents will be subjected to security checks;

7. A letter of good conduct has to be submitted for all participants and their dependants; 

8. Declaration of liquid assets which has to be at least RM1.5 million;

9. Fees for the pass increased from RM90 to RM500. Processing fee of RM5,000 will be charged on the principle and RM2,500 per dependant;

10. The Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture and the Home Ministry will work closely with tourism agencies to promote the programme.
 
Wan Ahmad Dahlan said the rules applied to both new applicants and those seeking an extension.
 
He added that a grace period of one year will be given to existing participants who are seeking an extension.
 
“The implementation of the MM2H programme and the entry of the participants to Malaysia will be based on the Health Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) which has been determined by the National Security Council and the Health Ministry’s risk assessment,” he said.
 
A total of 57,478 applications, including those of dependents, have been approved so far.
 
Between 2002 and 2019, the programme churned out RM11.89 billion in gross value added.
 
MM2H was launched in 2002 to attract foreign capital, promote tourism and develop the national economy by encouraging the long-term stay of foreigners in Malaysia with simpler procedures and more advantages such as a visa period of 10 years.
 
The programme has been suspended since 2019, without any updates from the government, leaving thousands of applicants frustrated. – August 11, 2021.