JOHOR BARU July 6 — Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Iskandar said today the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme needs to be improved in terms of its policies, incentives and benefits to ensure it does not burden applicants.
In a statement on his official Facebook page, he said that such improvement is important to make Malaysia one of the main choice destinations for foreigners.
Earlier today, Sultan Ibrahim granted a two-hour audience to Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing at the official state palace in Istana Bukit Serene.
Meanwhile, Tiong said Sultan Ibrahim shared and conveyed various views and thoughts about the MM2H programme.
He lauded Sultan Ibrahim’s views and ideas on MM2H, pointing out how they could boost Malaysia’s tourism sector.
“At the meeting with Sultan Ibrahim, he gave many good ideas and I am confident that these ideas can be implemented, thus boosting our tourism economy.
“I will discuss with the Home Affairs Ministry and industry players regarding the improvements to the MM2H programme, as well as the views and advice given by His Majesty,” he said in the statement.
Tiong added that all the matters discussed will be made into a proposal paper to the Cabinet next month.
Also present at the meeting were Johor Tourism, Environment, Heritage and Culture Committee chairman K. Raven Kumar and Yayasan Sultanah Fatimah director Tan Seng Leong.
In August 2021, Sultan Ibrahim decreed that the federal government review the implementation of the MM2H programme to achieve a positive balance towards investors as well as the country’s economic growth.
The 64-year-old state monarch said that a study needs to be carried out as the MM2H programme which had been implemented with new conditions for participants was seen as being too rigid.
Since the MM2H programme started in 2002, 57,478 foreigners have been given long-term visa passes before the programme was shelved in September 2018, to be reviewed with new conditions.
Under the MM2H programme with new conditions, participants need to have an income of RM40,000 per month compared to RM10,000 previously. The participant needs to have a savings account with RM1 million, in addition to declaring their liquid assets of at least RM1.5 million.
In addition, the MM2H programme pass fee was also increased from RM90 to RM500 per annum while the processing fee was revised to RM5,000 for the principal and RM2,500 for each dependent.
