Ep 92| MM2H: Time To Go Home?

The new criteria for the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) has put many participants in a spot. Over the last two decades, they have spent RM20bil in Malaysia but we may lose them now. Hear what they have to say in this interview.
Guests: Anthony Liew (MM2H Consultant) & Madeleine Ekeblad (MM2H Resident & Artist)
Disclaimer: All opinions expressed are purely personal and do not reflect the views of any organisation.
In partnership with ANN.
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[@salinamdnoor603]

My advice to the Minister. If you don't have any good or better ideas..just sit quietly. Don't do something that will make things worse.

[@sallieceelee5660]

Hopefully they make the requirements much more stringent henceforth. We don't want a flood of foreigners who think they are welcomed here. Once they are here, it's not easy to be rid of them...

[@eileeneileen3351]

@@sallieceelee5660 blachan brain

[@vivienliewleewen8474]

Very insightful talk and I learned about the latest on mm2h. Hopefully the government will make a u turn and make some changes before is too late. So many people livelihood are at stake here .

[@hatta1200gs]

Every expat family in Malaysia will attract about 3 family/friends visits annually to Malaysia for holidays. They come, they spend their money Malaysia. The MM2H expats are the perfect ambassadors for Tourism Malaysia. The new MM2H terms needs a serious rethink.

[@leealex24]

I, many Malaysians and and businesses strongly urge to rescind the latest rules on MM2H because firstly, it doesn't make sense during this climate and it's also very very unMalaysian to impose this to existing mm2h residents when they are already here don't the govt have any conscience and/or common sense? Are they that stupid and ignorant? I suggest that any new rules are imposed on new MM2H applicants. Thanks.

[@sallieceelee5660]

@@leealex24 Hopefully they make the requirements much more stringent henceforth. We don't want a flood of foreigners who think they are welcomed here. Once they are here, it's not easy to be rid of them...

[@aaap3875]

Maybe a serious 1st think, looks like they didn't even think about it the 1st round...

[@MrWaterbugdesign]

Not anymore.

[@MrWaterbugdesign]

@@leealex24 It's not unusual for politicians to blame foreigners for problems. We just suffered that very thing here in the US with Trump hating foreigners, except for hot Eastern European female models of course...and babes from Norway. It sounds to me that's what's going on in Malaysia right now. Politicians only care about staying in power, not always what good for the country.

[@deandut]

Malaysia My Second Home programme will change to Malaysia May Send you Home programme

[@infogolfbyjoejoe9119]

Many international school will close down. Property market in shock .expats selling and terminate tenancy. Untung la Thailand..

[@leealex24]

I, many Malaysians and and businesses strongly urge to rescind the latest rules on MM2H because firstly, it doesn't make sense during this climate and it's also very very unMalaysian to impose this to existing mm2h residents when they are already here don't the govt have any conscience and/or common sense? Are they that stupid and ignorant? I suggest that any new rules are imposed on new MM2H applicants. Thanks.

[@eileeneileen3351]

Blachan brain

[@Super1kc]

loss of trust and confidence by this silly policy will be difficult to recover even if policy is amended after the public outcry!

[@sssteel99]

Why the government do not consult all stakeholders before coming out with such disastrous changes? Very lazy decision by just taking the extreme.

[@aaap3875]

Ok just crossed Malaysia off my list, I was pursuing purchasing a vacation home in KLCC, almost put my deposit in 2020 but covid came. Was also excited about the original MM2H program Not anymore... Originally told lots of investors from Taiwan and California about MM2H and talked up Malaysia as a good investment country.

[@asterisk911]

I put in an application in December 2019, the first month of applications that didn't get processed (i.e., the September-November applications were processed, albeit with a stunning 90% rejection rate). The new stricter conditions are doable for me, but I'm no longer interested. The opportunity cost of having 1 million ringgits in a fixed deposit make no sense to me, and although I may often spend more than 90 days in Malaysia, I don't want to have such a high minimum residence requirement. I'm not complaining, because I get that it's their country and I have no inherent right to live there. I'm just saying: I was interested in the programme to the point of actually putting in an application (with the help of an agent), and I already have a bank account in Malaysia (another testament to how seriously interested I was in the programme) and I can afford the new rules... and yet I won't be going through with the application. The point is they're not only driving away people who can't afford the new rules; they're driving away at least some of us who CAN afford the new rules.

[@patoises]

you are missing the point, they are not bothered at all - it's all political

[@AB-uz7dz]

Important: Existing MM2H holder shall follow the old rules at extension, not sudden increase of everything

[@p.a.ch.3861]

your Home affair minister knows very well , his ultimate goal is to reduce Foreigners living here. he prefers more cheap labors to work for malaysian

[@salinamdnoor603]

Saya sangat terkejut bila dengar tentang berita ini keluar dulu.. Saya rasa sangat tidak adil kepada mereka terutama pada masa Covid ni dimana semua orang terjejas. Saya tak boleh fikir macam mana menteri boleh buat arahan ini. Malaysia yang rugi. Benda2 macam ini yang membuat rakyat kata menteri bodoh.

[@zairasras9470]

Malaysia ada Maruah laa...Senang2 buta2 mau kasi Scammer,Macau scam ka,mana tau,datang sini,bikin masaalah lagi..Jgn jd bodoh..senang mau buka jalan kasi org masuk negeri Malaysia..KifA negara BERAJA,BERSULTAN...Ada adab n tata susila.. Yg pendatang ke sini,bukan ada adab...Ini malaysi bukan Republic..Ad sekatan2 dia...negara yg ramai Islam..Yg datang bukan Islam...kdg2 mereka tak faham kita....banyak lg.Thailand Vietnam keyboard Spore n Filipina. Sana tak Islam,sepatutnya sesuai dhn org tak Islam..TAPI nak datang juga,nak maduk juga ke Malaysia...kenapa?budaya n agama tak serupa....tapi nak datang duduk sini juga. .Kalau negara2 Asean lagi murah lagi baik lg sempurna..lg tak beraja n taj beragama Islam...Awak pergi laa sana....Dakkk...nak datang ke negara Iskam Malaysia juga. Yg verlaine agama n budaya. Hairan2...bak datang juga..Tak Malu betul

[@rexenawteckchin9898]

Our politicians already half water mindset then likely to taken quarter water mindset be cabinets assistants for easily control the power...this is problematic over 64yrs in M'sia..

[@MrWaterbugdesign]

Sarawak & Philippines have been the top of my list. I wanted to buy because I love to garden so Sarawak looked best. But this visa thing, and seeing the same mess in Vietnam does remind me that without a permanent residency in any country I could be kicked out at some future point. During political troubles it's not unusual to blame foreigners to try and stay in power. So I have to rethink buying and even moving to another country. From my visa holder perspective Malaysia looks unstable to me.

[@bowlampar]

Nobody here forced you to come and live in Malaysia . Rule n law faced changes all the time here, you just have to get use to it as a foreigner. 😏

[@joshuatan8061]

Thats is why need GE15 fast...so that we can kick out those ministers..

[@TheLauth2010]

Stupidity of the current administration. THE EXPAT contribute a lot to Malaysian economy

[@KLProperties]

Everyone just complain about the new MM2H requirement but they never propose a solution. Please also be aware that those so called stakeholders are actually beneficiary. They all have conflict of interests. Their opinions are only focus in their own business. Let me ask one simple question : What is their propose solution and how they come to this solution ?

[@johneelee3308]

Encourage and provide 10 years visa or PR to over 1 million Malaysian diaspora who are graduate of accredited universities to return and set up SMEs in Malaysia instead of the bureaucratic Return Expert Program that is not appealing for many reasons.

[@ethanf.6848]

The incumbent govt wants to throw away something good like this. With such paranoid and bad decision making, the property markets in M'sia will crash due to oversupply.

[@Richard.Cabeza]

There is NO WAY I am going to tie up 1m ringgit (how is that helping the economy?) and lose min of 25k ringgit interest and possibly having my foreign income taxed. Malaysia does not offer the value and experience to warrant that kind of capital. I feel for all those that have committed to Malaysia on previous MM2H. I don't trust the Thai government either and will not be buying anything of value there, i.e. car, condo, etc. Rent and able to walk away is the only way. These greedy governments are not to be trusted.

[@ochoonda]

The main motivation for this short sighted ridiculous changes is Sino phobia. The Malay ultras are scared if MM2H is too accessible, there will be a flood of Chinese from China living in Malaysia especially in Iskander, Johore.

[@getsmartpaul]

This seems to be a backlash response by the Government ? Can you do a video on the REASONS why they have implemented such a strict MM2H program ? e.g. They don't want to be like Thailand, Phillipines , Vietnam with frugal/poor expats ? They only want upscale ( rich ) people? The Muslim majority doesn't want so many non-Muslims affecting their society. I'm only guessing but it needs to be explained to provide a perspective from the Malaysian government. How many Expats are already in the MM2H program now ? The video refers to 8000 people getting a FREE ride. What does this mean ? Thanks ! So, try Portugal !

[@Photojouralist123]

Chun Wai most folks think its the westerners that are the majority of the MM2h holders but in fact they are down the list. China, Japan , Bangladaeh are the majority. Its the Japanese quietly made the change by making noise to their embassy.

[@hildavandermeulen6445]

Before I settled here my overseas collegue warned me of these possibilities.... The enti ement for coming here is directed for the oor migrants.. Legal or illegally.. Bangladeshis in parti ular. I didn't work as a nurse/technician to be considered not suitable after living here for so many years....

[@alantan9585]

The Minister thought that Bangla spend more money than the expat.....

[@AB-uz7dz]

Existing MM2H holder who sold their property in the home country to move to Malaysia, they are badly treated with the new rule, force them back to home country is terrible.

[@AB-uz7dz]

Now they have to sell the Malaysia property and move back to home country

[@donaldtrumpet3094]

When u have something good, why kill it? Hiyah!

[@p.a.ch.3861]

Chris , u only emphasis on the " money " . No , to me it is the principal that your minister do not want to honour

[@p.a.ch.3861]

no , our fixed deposits are for the Banks to utilise ; is like we give a loan to the banks for 5 years ( in old rules 10 years ) in addition , my experience since 2008 , the exchange rate drop by 25% . so , we the mm2h holders make losses eventualy. my simple economic knowledge suggest the future RM vs $ and £ would be very unfavourable. in my opinion those Ministers are very clever , make new rules to " kick " us out. they are so afraid since Independence that too many non malay race would ruin their Country

[@jameshue55]

Malaysia is not unknown to fark up important things. What's wrong with another one.

[@kevintan4321]

Most of them will leave....

[@avia1968]

i can see you are a star wars fans

[@ecomarinebd]

World population is declining, MM2H will lose its luster to, say, Philippines? Good!

[@user-uk2tq1no8p]

it's really a stupid program! no one go there again!

[@Jeff-sm8of]

there is no need to attract foreigners to malaysia. its already a very attractive country to retire. the lady can still stay in penang using the s-mm2h. if thailand and other asean countries are more attractive, then retire there. go where you will be treated the best and get the best value for your money. i sympathize with the lady. but when you move to a foreign country must always have an exit plan. is it not the same for foreigners in australia? retirees can stay in malaysia or thailand because they must have fast and affordable access to health care. in cambodia you will have to be air lifted or buy insurance. for retirees both options are expensive. blame all the westerners who stay long term in asean countries and post "cheap charlie" videos on youtube. eventually the authorities in all these countries will think there is no benefit for them and do same as malaysia. hike the requirements like singapore and malaysia.