The most important thing to know under the MM2H programme is that you are not allowed to have a paid work in Malaysia. Yet you are allowed to invest in Malaysia or to own businesses in Malaysia! Read below all the advantages of the Malaysia my second home programme.

MALAYSIA, My Second Home (MM2H) programme

(From Starbiz 2006)

MALAYSIA, My Second Home (MM2H) programme is promoted by the Government to allow people from all over the world who fulfil the stipulated criteria to stay in the country for as long as possible on a social visit pass with a multiple entry visa.

The social visit pass is initially for a period of 10 years (depending on the validity of the applicants’ passport) and is renewable.

Among the benefits under the programme are:

• Those who qualify for the programme are offered a 10-year social visit pass and multiple-entry visa.
• After 10 years, renewal is guaranteed if there is no violation of laws and rules of Malaysia.
• During these 10 years, the person is free to stay in Malaysia and travel as often as he likes. .
• He can import his car or purchase a new completely knocked down car tax-free.
• School-going children will be giving student pass to further their studies at international colleges and universities.
• Can bring in a maid from the country of origin to Malaysia after the approval.
• Can be an investor and own businesses in Malaysia.
• For housing loan, can obtain up to 80% as compared to the normal 60% for foreign applicants (subject to credibility).
• No need to obtain Foreign Investment Committee (FIC) approval for purchasing properties in Malaysia.
• For participants from countries that have double taxation agreement with Malaysia, their pension fund that are remitted to Malaysia will
  be exempted from tax if the person has stayed more than 184 days in the country.

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Chronology of changes to MM2H

A summary of the requirements of the Malaysia My Second Home program, listed in the Malaysia newspaper "New Straits Times" (1st July, 2006)

Malaysia my second home: Eligibility

• 1996: Citizens of all nations (except Israel and Yugoslavia) welcomed to enter and stay under a social visit pass.
• From 2002: Open to citizens of countries recognised by Malaysia regardless of race, religion, gender or age. Applicants allowed to bring along their spouse and children below 18 years old who are not married.

Malaysia my second home: Age

• 1996: 50 years old and above.
• From 2002: No age limit.

Malaysia my second home: Finance/ Income

• 1996: Individuals required to have savings of at least RM100,000.00, while individuals with spouses need at least RM150,000. Otherwise, an individual had to have a monthly income of RM7,000, while individuals with spouses needed at least RM10,000.
• From 2006: Foreigners below 50 years old require a Fixed Deposit account of RM300,000, while those aged 50 years and more can choose either to open a Fixed Deposit account with RM150,000 or show proof of monthly off-shore income of RM10,000 (such as through a pension scheme).

Malaysia my second home: Withdrawal of Deposit

• 1996: Not allowed throughout the Malaysia my second Home Programme.
• From 2006: Foreigners below 50 years old can withdraw up to RM240,000, while those aged 50 years or more can withdraw RM90,000 after one year for approved expenses relating to house purchase, educating their children in Malaysia and medical purposes. A minimum balance of RM60,000.00 from the second year must be maintained throughout the Malaysia my second Home Programme for both age categories.

Malaysia my second home: Validity

• 1996: Yearly renewal, (multiple entry visa to Malaysia)
• 2002: 5-year visa, (multiple entry visa to Malaysia)
• 2006: 10-year visa, (multiple entry visa to Malaysia)

Malaysia my second home: Insurance/Medical Report

• Since 1996: Foreigners need to have a valid Medical Health Insurance issued by a Malaysian insurance company and a Medical Report by any recognised local private medical hospital or Government hospital.

Malaysia my second home: Sponsor

• 1996: Either own, or sponsored by any Malaysian.
• 2006: Either own or through a licensed agent of the Ministry of Tourism.

Malaysia my second home: Duration of Approval

• 1996: 14 working days.
• 2002: 21 working days.
• 2006: 30 working days. 

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Why John & Samantha Jones signed up for MM2H?
(Malaysia Newspaper 17th June 2006)

The article below gives an example of 2 Malaysia my second Home visa-holders, and why they decided to settle down in Malaysia.

Holiday in Langkawi

Samantha Jones, 38, remembers vividly that moment in 2002. "We were sitting on the lanai in Pelangi Resort and all of a sudden I just felt it … wow, I don’t think I’ve ever felt so relaxed in my whole life," recalls Jones. Samantha and her spouse, John, 50, were holidaying in Langkawi for 10 days.

"On the way to the airport, I cried all the way. I just didn’t want to go home."

The Joneses of Somerset County have always talked about emigrating overseas when John, a fireman, retires after 32 years of service. At first, they thought of moving to Spain. But on their second vacation to Langkawi, they made up their minds to move here. Back in the UK, they did some research and found out about the MM2H programme via the Internet.

Applying for Malaysia my second home: Easy!

"The programme was straightforward, we filled in our applications, sent them off and we knew in six weeks that we had been accepted," says Samantha who worked as an insurance clerk in UK. "It’s that simple."

In Langkawi, the Joneses also found their dream house - a Malay wooden house on
a hill amid a tranquil kampung. Though they are only renting now, the Joneses are excited about sprucing up the house with stuff they love and also shopping for furniture.

"I’m probably one of the youngest retirees around," smiles Samantha who quit her job to come here. "John’s pension is good but we both would still have to work if we stayed in the UK."

"Medical insurance for us would have cost £4,000 pounds (RM27,000) a year in UK," adds John. "Here, we managed to get insurance coverage for £800 (RM5,400) for both of us."

How great is Malaysia?

Costs aside, the Joneses gush about how great Malaysia is.

"In Langkawi, we can walk down a busy street and no one’s hassling you, selling you something or dragging you into a restaurant," says Samantha. "And the people - we love them. It’s hard to find anyone as generous or kind as a Malaysian."

"We walk down the street, people smile at you and they want to talk to you," adds John. "Sometimes it takes 10 minutes to drive past a place because the kids are waving at us."

The only thing Samantha finds   :. lacking is a place to shop on the island.

Convenient shopping in Kuala Lumpur

"I’m ready now to go to Kuala Lumpur to shop for girly stuff. I can’t find certain things here like nice leather sandals," says Samantha.

"And people here speak such  good English, it makes us lazy to learn Malay," confesses John who understands simple Bahasa Malaysia.

Adapting to Malaysia and Malaysian culture

The Joneses have adapted well to their new life although they have only been here less than three months (at the time of the interview).

When one of their cats, Tigger, went missing for two weeks, Samantha consulted a local bomoh (witchdoctor) from the village. "I was desperate and would try anything just to know if he was still alive. If the bomoh had said my cat had been eaten by a snake, I’d have come home crying but at least I knew," recalls Samantha.

The bomoh told Samantha: "Your cat’s alive, but its been taken and kept in a cage near the airport." Two days later, Tigger came home bruised and wounded, but very much alive.

How to spend your retirement in Malaysia?

How do the Joneses plan to spend their retirement years?

"The word, ‘nothing’ comes up," smiles John. The couple look forward to traveling more around the Asia Pacific.

"Well, John just wants to play golf and fish. I just want to sunbathe," Samantha chips in.

"What I would really love to do eventually is volunteer at the pet clinic (Langkawi Animal Shelter)."

Article By LEONG SIOK HUI, The Star newspaper 17th June 2006: Malaysia Newspaper

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