PAC ticks off way MM2H managed, urged for immediate improvements

 

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) today ticked off the way the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme was managed, which was unsatisfactory and urged that immediate improvements be made to ensure that the programme achieves its original objectives.

PAC, among others, found that the MM2H participants’ data and documents were not systematically maintained and as a result, monitoring of participants' activities, expenses and asset ownership could not be verified.

“In addition, there was no complete record to identify the overall value of properties owned by all MM2H participants. Property ownership data was only recorded if the purchase of the property involves the use of fixed deposits, which is attached to the requirements of the MM2H programme,” PAC chairperson Wong Kah Woh (above) said in a statement today.

As such, it is recommended that the role of the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry in promoting the MM2H programme be strengthened in order to achieve the original goal of stimulating the economy in tourism sub-sectors such as education, healthcare, real estate and automobile industry.

Improvements are needed as the MM2H programme is able to contribute to the country's revenue and economic growth in various sectors, he said.

Meanwhile, the Home Ministry was advised to enhance its data storage application system, especially in terms of monitoring the number of participants according to categories that are divided into new applications and extension applications, participants’ activities and expenses, asset ownership and other issues.

“The new policy on the MM2H programme must be customer-friendly and more competitive than neighbouring countries.

“The criteria for participation should be more flexible according to the diversity of the targeted participants. Engagement sessions with all stakeholders should be intensified before the new policy is finalised," Wong said.

Three proceedings on the MM2H programme were held on Nov 24, Dec 1 and Dec 2 which saw five witnesses called, namely Auditor-General Nik Azman Nik Abdul Majid, Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry secretary-general Noor Zari Hamat, MM2H Consultant Association chairperson Anthony Liew Yong Huat, Home Ministry deputy secretary-general (policy and control) Mohamad Fauzi Md Isa and Immigration director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud.

- Bernama