Income Option

[Brian]

Hi Scott,

Just thought I would let you know about my visit to PWTC. In a nutshell it seems our application was declined in April 2007 - although no one told me either by mail or email!! It was turned down because my income (salary) although RM60K+ per month was not a government pension!! No where in any of the application procedures did it state that an off-shore salary income would not be recognised. To but it bluntly  I am dumbfounded.

I have been told I can appeal. I asked what is required and it seems that they want up to date copies of bank statements to show the income ( which will be slightly higher as I have had a pay rise since Feb) but this will be from the same source so what good that will do I don't know, and "evidence" of monies deposited overseas. No problem with the latter either.

I am a bit sucked off about the whole thing and I am not sure if I will bother further. I asked when I applied was all of the documentation in order ( as I delivered it by hand and talked to an officer there) and should I put down the FD. I was told not to bother as the income was more than sufficient.

It makes you think what sort of person they want on the MM2H!!

Cheers

Brian

[scott]

hi, Brian,

Many thanks for the post, and what a shock.

From your post, and earlier ones, it's now become clear that the staff at the One-Stop Centre aren't in whatever "information loop" the immigration approving committee has set-up.  And you not being informed of the decision is really bad news. How do these folks expect to promote and expand the programme when their own performance is so slack. 

As you've already gone so far it seems worthwhile to make the appeal and base it on the sufficient funds option (as you posted). The local Malaysians that I meet everyday tell me that they're used to a desultory civil service. They tell me that they have very low expectations which are sometimes met, sometimes not.

regards, Scott

 

[Qjumper]

It seems that Brian has had one "bad" experience but I would urge him to persevere. It's all part of the game and helps to adjust 2nd homers to the way things are done. Its not good but there it is, sometimes it feels like swimming in treacle.

Unfortunately the experience shows why it can be useful to have an agent. The panel that sits to decide these things do communicate with the agents and if not the agent should chase the application.

Heres an example of the way that information is disseminated,

Logged on to the motour website to chase up an application. Tried to enter my application number but nothing happened, no error, no new page , nothing. Used feedback to point out that the site wasnt working correctly. Got a very nice email to say that they prefer to be emailed so that they can give an update. I thanked them and asked for the update. Nothing heard since (2 weeks) then.

This poses two questions.

• Why have the option on the site to ask for feedback if it a) doesnt work and b) was never intended to work.
  
  Why tell me that they are glad to provide feedback when asked and then proceed not to provide it.

Stick with it Brian


Regards, Bob

[scott]

hi,

I share Qjumper's view about experiencing how things are done here. Bureaucracy is slow, tedious and repetitious. The front-desk folks have an idea of what's required but it's often, same desk, different person, different rules. Info from above doesn't filter down. And if the top guy (the one who signs-off on stuff) is away then forget it. You'll need to take a deep breath, count to 10, and return when the guy's back. It often seems that "delegation" is a foreign word.

I've posted elsewhere my experience of picking-up the MM2H forms, completing them, handing them in and being told that they were the out-of-date forms. And being told this by the same person who handed me the old forms! All this in the space of a couple of weeks.

Malaysia is a pretty relaxed, easy going place. And that means everything is relaxed and easy going. Today maybe can, tomorrow also can.

regards, Scott

[Brian]

Hi,

Yes have dediced to persevere the tax breaks are too good to ignore. Have all the necessary documents showing continued income/investments etc and taking them down to PWTC tomorrow.

Funny thing after I called in last week and was told I had been declined, I received an email saying that I had been declined ( 3 months after the committee meeting !). It recommended that I appeal and provide proof of liquid investments.

Will keep you posted on outcome.  As I have shown evidence of "substantial liquid investments" it should now be plain sailing!!! Don't hold your breath.

Cheers

Brian

[fizzychickensoup]

Good on you Brian....Just keep smiling, and sometimes people smile back (but not as coomon as in Thailand).

We all moan and bitch from time to time, but it is good to remember that nowhere is perfect, and here in Malaysia it is (almost) as good as it gets. We have had to 'bite out tongues' on many occasions' over the last 8 years, but a day or two later it is all forgotten and we continue to enjoy the benefits.

Having said that I am typing this at Changi airport on my way to the UK for a month to check out the 'old fogies'.

[tombo]

Hi Scott

Well we moved to Penang 2 weeks ago now, in advance of receiving the MM2H, bought the car, have found place to live, set up bank accounts, insurances etc, kids booked in to schools etc. All fine, now awaiting our shipment of household goods.  Had come to the conclusion that MM2H was not the be all, could live here anyhow, just have to pop out of country from time to time to renew.

But now we have received our acceptance by MM2H!  It took 7 months for approval from time of submsision. We applied under the income method, but have been approved on the basis we take out the usual FD requirements.  This is what we were expecting, so the delay is largely due to the fact we applied under the income method.  Good news I guess except we have already bought the car.... not sure if it can be backdated now, and anyway not sure the benefit is that significant if you only intend to stay for 3 years and then resell???  Would have to repay a portion of the duty.  Just decided to go for a cheaper car that's all. A delight to only have to pay AUD30 to register the car (based on engine size so ours is a 1500cc and so quite cheap), compared to Australia the running costs of a car are very low here.  Also as I said before here (different thread) the finance for new cars is very low (only about 3%) so makes the cost of cars quite reasonable. If you look at the overal cost of running a car in Malaysia its cheap.

Have been enjoying life in Penang, where else in the world could you get great hawker food for about AUD2-3 a plate, and free wireless internet into the bargain, yes there are hawker eating places with free internet access. 

In terms of some of the feedback from people about service etc, particularly from government, there is one obvious point that strikes you, especially in Penang which is a very Chinese town.  The service you get when dealing with Chinese here is good, efficient, and quite straightforward. In marked contrast to the service when dealing with government, or gov owned entities eg telecom.  One doesnt like to bring ethnicity into it, but this is an undeniable consequence of the Gov policy of giving advantages to the Malays. This has pros and cons, most will agree that this is a small price to pay for reduced conflict (ie inter ethnic confrontasi of teh 60s) and racial tolerance (harmony might not be the right word). But it means that Malays get jobs (and university places etc) on basis of race, with little pressure to perform in many cases.  Whereas the chinese, and to an extent the Indians, know they have to perform to survive, they have to go into business because the cushy Gov jobs are not available to them.  Dont want to make too much of an issue here, but it is a fact of life that locals also nderstand well. if you have a problem with (eg service etc) with anyone the first question they will ask is who did you deal with (chinese, malay, indian) the strategy then differs accordingly.

The only disadvantage so far is that the satellite TV provider, Astro, doesnt cover Rugby Union as far as I can tell.  May be a dismal Rugby World Cup, unless they cover that. 

Well good luck to those still waiting for approvals

Tombo     

[Qjumper]

Well done Tombo,

We hope to join you soon in Penang. I think our appeal is to be heard tomorrow.

I think you will enjoy the life in Penang and when you want to cool off the Cameron Highlands is not too far away. I envy your dining arrangements, it would take a lifetime to try every eating place.

Just one tip about local air travel if you intend to use Airasia.  Don't

Best of luck,

Bob

[Brian]

Hi Tombo,

As I stated in my previous emails about being turned down I have now appealed - took all the paperwork down to PWTC on Monday. Basically what they told me is that there would be no problem but I would have to put down the FD of 150K. What pees me off is that I asked them this when I first applied in February under the income section and they said no need!!Could have saved 6 months aggro. I should have known better I have been coming to Malaysia on and off for 20 years now both for work and pleasure and should have learned. What you say about the chinese/malay/indian mix is so true.

Told me I would hear by end of August.

One question : you mention interest rate for car loans - did you manage to get a loan without being on the MM2H programme?

Cheers

Brian

[tombo]

Brian

Yes we had no trouble buying the car from Toyota. Had to give a local address and obviously had to have a bank account. The finance company wanted some evidence of assets, we used the same sort of stuf we had put together for MM2H and that seemed more than they required. Again dealing with Chinese, they just want your business.

Re the Air Asia I have also found them to be good, try the Indonesian airlines!  But then it just takes one bad experience. I see in todays press BA voted worst in Europe (budget airlines not included in this survey).

Good luck with MM2H

BTW do you Penang residents know there is a cafe in town run by Aussie MM2Hers, called Green Cafe, in Chinatown area. they were given permission to run a business (ie a cafe) on the proviso they also act as an info centre for MM2H.  So you can get a lot of useful info from teh couple (dont have names on me) who are very helpful, and the cafe is great.  So the point is the MM2H is flexible at times, if it suits the gov.

Cheers

Tombo

[scott]

hi, Tombo,

Congratulations on the MM2H, and the car, and being in Penang etc.

On your MM2H visa stamp, does it say "West Malaysia and Sabah" or is it "West Malaysia" and without the Sabah bit? I only want to know as I'm trying to get to grips with some anomalies, and MoTour is not responding to my emails.

By the way, if you're in the Green Cafe, can you please put up a note about this site if they allow such things.

Your point about flexibility is well made.

regards, Scott

[tombo]

Hi Scott

Havent got the visa yet,just the approval letter.  Might take a few months for us to get together the FD, we have 6 months.  Will let you know then. 

Actually I'm working in Jakarta mostly, so now have trips back to Penang every 3 weeks or so, where the family is based.  When next in Green Cafe will do.

all the best

Tombo

[scott]

hi, all,

This thread is getting a bit lengthy, and off & on topic, and some of the good exchanges will get lost in the black hole of extended threads. So, in a few hours I'll join-up the airline posts in the other thread about airlines, and join the moving/movers posts with the thread about movers and shipping companies, which is currently a bit thin anyway.

I'll start a new thread for the Penang Green Cafe which is something that I'd like to know about as well.

regards, Scott

[tombo]

I'll try and get details, I did have their card somewhere. Its in the old chinese part of town, the couple bought an old shop and did it up (much cheaper than buying a new appartment they reckoned). They live upstairs. It was written up in the Penang tourist newspaper a few months back, photo on front page etc.  I'll check further

Tombo   

[scott]

I've put most of the posts on moving under Moving - General on the Movers & Moving Board. And most of the post on Air Asia under Air Asia on the Cost of Living Board.

It doesn't all quite read seamlessly but its OK as we all pretty much know whats going on.

regards. Scott