DPM: Nearly 200 N. Koreans here under ‘Second Home’ programme

KUALA LUMPUR, March 13 — There are 193 North Koreans who have made Malaysia their second home under a government programme, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has said.

Zahid reportedly said Malaysia has permitted these 193 North Koreans to stay here under the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme since 2014.

Citing data from the Immigration Department, Zahid said a total of 2,453 North Koreans had stayed in Malaysia from 2014 until this year, but said there are only 315 who are still here.

"Out of the 2,453 citizens, 801 were here under temporary work visit permits. Another 193 are those under the MM2H programme, 11 are students and 180 are miners in Sarawak.

"However, our record shows that only 315 remain here in Malaysia, while the rest have returned to their homeland," he was quoted saying yesterday by local paper theSun's portal.

He said most of the North Koreans who are still here are either working or studying locally, or residing in the country under the MM2H programme.

Zahid said the government would not be monitoring the 315 North Koreans here amid a travel ban in response to North Korea’s similar move against Malaysians there, but said there are methods to deal with situations if they are engaged in negative activities.

Former diplomat Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin however responded by saying that North Koreans' joining of the MM2H programme was a great cause for concern and questioned the security vetting conducted for the scheme, alleging that North Korea is known to dispatch spies abroad.

"Our authorities appear to have a lax attitude towards our country's security. This is unacceptable," she was quoted telling theSun.

According to theSun, over 30,000 people have been approved under the MM2H programme since 2002, with applicants required to be cleared in security checks either by producing a police clearance certificate or letter of good conduct from their home country to prove they have no criminal records.

The MM2H website states that applicants below the age of 50 must prove liquid assets worth a minimum of RM500,000 and monthly offshore income of RM10,000; while those aged 50 and above have to prove liquid assets of RM350,000 and monthly offshore income of RM10,000.

Those who are retired must show proof of monthly government pension of RM10,000.