Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng has asked for more clarity from the Home Ministry regarding the recently rolled out Premium Visa Programme (PVIP).
Among those, the DAP lawmaker requested details on the government agency and agents put in charge of the enrolment for the programme.
"The details of this programme are not made public in any official government channel.
"How are the agents picked for this programme, and what are their qualifications? Are they (agents) allowed to collect any money or fees from the applicants?" Lim asked in a statement today.
He was responding to the remark by Home Minister Hamzah Zainudin that the PVIP, which is offered to wealthy foreigners to invest in Malaysia and reside in the country for a period of 20 years, has been a huge success with 20,000 applications received from agents on the first day of its launch itself.
The programme is offered to business tycoons from all countries except Israel and those that did not have diplomatic ties with Malaysia.
‘Be transparent’
Lim noted that Malaysia already has a dark history with issues pertaining to visa processing and immigration.
"Many officers, including a former deputy prime minister, have been caught out for not being trustworthy in carrying out their duties in processing visas," Lim said, in reference to Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who is facing corruption charges over the awarding of the foreign visa system.
"What is the guarantee that this process (PVIP agent involvement) will not be mismanaged as how it had been before, especially when it comes to collecting money?
"Also needs to be clarified is how the PVIP is better than existing visa programmes, such as the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme which does the same?" Lim asked.
"Every time a new programme is conceived, it would definitely consume a lot of costs, including to start up new departments and appoint new agents," he added.
As such, the government should be transparent in dealings connected to the PVIP, Lim added.
"Without detailed information, how can the rakyat help in drawing in foreign investors? The programme should be more open and not reserved to certain 'secret' agents." - Mkini
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