Putrajaya freezes MM2H applications, leaving agents confused

Applications for Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme, which contributed RM40 billion to the economy, have been frozen indefinitely, as revealed in a letter by the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (Motac).

The letter, dated June 29, was about the closure of the MM2H centre based at the ministry and its move to the Immigration Department in Putrajaya. It did not provide a reason for the move.

MM2H agents did not know why applications were frozen and were confused over the decision, said MM2H Agents Association president Lim Kok Sai as reported by The Malaysian Insight today.

However, 90 percent of new applications to the MM2H programme had been rejected without reason last year between September and November.

Almost 1,000 applications were rejected during that time, said Lim.

This is the highest ever rejection rate for the programme in the last 14 years.

The movement control order (MCO), which was implemented starting March 18, had also seen disruptions to the MM2H programme as MM2H counters were closed and Putrajaya had closed Malaysia’s borders to most foreigners with certain exceptions.

“During the MCO, many agents had to cancel their appointments because application counters were closed,” he said.

Agents had been hoping to resume their activities with the start of the recovery MCO, which saw many other sectors reopening for business, but the recent announcement by Motac caught them by surprise.

“The MM2H Immigration Unit will be transferred to the Immigration Department starting July 6.

“Therefore, any immigration-related issues may be pursued directly with the Immigration Department at its headquarters.

“Due to the closure of the centre, all new submissions will not be accepted until further notice,” read the Motac announcement.

Previously, a number of MM2H visa holders who had been overseas when the MCO was implemented had been stranded abroad for months as Putrajaya did not allow any foreigners to enter the country.

However, as the government eased restrictions amid the Covid-19 pandemic, MM2H visa holders stranded overseas were finally allowed to return to Malaysia on May 17.

The MM2H programme is a government initiative under the Tourism Ministry launched in 2002 that aimed to attract foreign expatriates to invest in Malaysia as a serious option for migration.

The MM2H residency is a renewable 10-year, multiple-entry visa that provides incentives for property purchases and education among others. - Mkini