MM2H open to any country, not just China - Tiong
He said that through the programme, foreigners are allowed to apply for residency under different eligibility criteria and those who succeed will receive a residence pass for a specified period.
“Successful applicants will...
The Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme is not only for Chinese nationals but open to applicants from any country, said Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing.
He explained that through the programme, foreigners are allowed to apply for residency under different eligibility criteria and those who succeed will receive a residence pass for a specified period.
“Successful applicants will receive a residence pass for a certain period, allowing them to live and spend their currency in Malaysia, thereby contributing to our economic growth and generating national income.
“Even Malaysians can apply for residency in other countries under stipulated conditions,” he said in a statement on Facebook yesterday.
Tiong (above) was commenting on a statement by former minister Rais Yatim on Facebook regarding the MM2H programme, which was alleged to have made 22,000 Chinese nationals permanent residents.
Tiong added that there is no hidden agenda in the implementation of MM2H and that, instead, it aims to attract foreign investments and improve Malaysia’s position as the destination of choice for investors and international residents.
“This programme is designed to generate economic benefits for the country.
“Actions, such as those by Rais, will certainly hinder the potential and brand of MM2H on the international stage, prevent foreign investors from carrying out their businesses in Malaysia, and foil efforts to make Malaysia a thriving investment hub,” he said.
‘Misleading narratives’
As a former minister well-versed in legislation, Rais should have verified the accuracy of the information before making accusations that could cause confusion and racial tension in Malaysia’s multicultural society, Tiong retorted.
“It must be understood that his irresponsible statement could trigger unnecessary turmoil among the people.
“In a multiracial country like Malaysia, misleading narratives like this can provoke racial tension and division, potentially leading to serious consequences such as racial disputes or social conflicts,” he said.
MM2H requirements
Introduced in 2002, the MM2H programme allowed foreigners to purchase property and reside in Malaysia before it was temporarily suspended in August 2020 for the Home Ministry and the Tourism, Arts, and Culture Ministry to review the programme.
Since October 2021, new MM2H applications have been handled by the Immigration Department, covering existing application processing services and logistics.
The general conditions for the programme include being open to foreigners from countries with diplomatic relations with Malaysia, being at least 25 years old, all applications must be submitted through the MM2H One-Stop Centre, and staying in Malaysia for at least 90 cumulative days per year.
- Bernama
