Author Topic: Communications with the Ministry (Read 1327 times)

HIDDEN · « **on:** October 27, 2007, 06:25:10 PM »

Hi Scott et al,

I'm hoping that this will be a useful thread although it may be in the wrong place?

Today 2710/2007 I sent 3 enquiries to the ministry.

1. Please clarify what the incentive for house purchase is, it would appear that non MM2Hers have the advantage as there are no restrictions on them.

2. Please clarify withdrawals of FD for house purchase. I have heard that people who bought prior to joining the program can withdraw in the first 12 months.

3. Please update position on ID cards. They have stated that these will be available from September, are we still on track?

I will let you know the response.

If we all contact the Ministry more often via the Motour site I believe we will start to get good responses as they seem much more "switched on" these days. It could also be useful to put the same questions to Mudtour via the SMM2H site.

Bob

HIDDEN · « **Reply #1 on:** October 27, 2007, 06:36:42 PM »

Hi Scott,

Is it possible to do a poll on Communicating with the Ministry. If it's popular then we can give them lots of traffic, if not we can forget it.

Bob

HIDDEN · « **Reply #2 on:** October 27, 2007, 06:55:54 PM »

Hi Bob

I think that this is a great idea!

Regards

Paul

HIDDEN · « **Reply #3 on:** October 29, 2007, 08:24:26 PM »

hi,

What is the poll question? I don't mind emailing MoTour, I've sent many emails the past few months. They now ignore the ones from Scott7777, so I've a whole galaxy of emailers.

When this site started in May, I emailed MoTour to let them know about the site and suggested that they posted here:

Quote

From: scott7777@myfastmail.com
Sent: Friday, May 25, 2007 12:35 PM
To: LAI SHEVREN
Subject: RE: Feedback From MM2H Microsite

Hi,

Many thanks for the email. Existing my2homers have quite a few concerns regarding the recent changes, and if there will be further changes affecting renewals.

I'm also sure that potential my2homers are equally upset at the "agents-only" ruling.

I started a web site 2 weeks ago to assist existing holders, and potential applicants, by having an independent, information forum. And I hope that this site will do its bit to spread the my2home scheme to a wider audience.

It may be useful for motour to post some explanations on this site, and to use the site to indicate the direction of the scheme, and post changes.

www.my2home.info

regards,
Scott

... and I received the following reply:

Quote

Dear Scott,

Thank you for your information, we will do our best to make this programme successful .

Regards,
Lai Shevren

Brilliant.

Maybe we open up a Board for Emails to MoTour.

regards, Scott

HIDDEN · « **Reply #4 on:** October 29, 2007, 09:46:54 PM »

Hi Scott,

I have sent a PM to explain. I think your suggestion was a very good one.

Bob

HIDDEN · « **Reply #5 on:** October 30, 2007, 12:08:26 AM »

hi,

I think that it's good to email MoTour and to post replies. So far I've usually deleted the name of the respondent, except in the above example where the response is so innocuous.

Issues of privacy and good manners arise. Some (not much) flack was received from the Agents Survey, mainly along the lines of "you didn't say this was a survey." This is fair comment but then, if the word "survey" had been used then there wouldn't have been a response at all. And as the response from agents was generally amateurish, pushy, and lacking in any professional regard, eventually it all seemed OK.

If MoTour comes to believe that all their replies will be posted here then they will stop replying. This happened to Scott7777.

How to engage MoTour on a non-recriminatory and constructive basis. Now that's the problem.

I'd like to know:

1). The % of DIY applications that were rejected in the first 5 months of 2007.
2). The % of applications rejected in the 4 months since Agent-Only Applications in June 2007.
3). The basis on which the maximum fees for agents services are set.
4). The procedures that MoTour has put in place to safeguard the interests of applicants (overcharging by agents, privacy of applicants financial details).
5). The procedures that MoTour has to investigate complaints against agents.

If I email MoTour about all of this and they reply, "it's none of your business" (which they are entitled to do) then fair enough. But at least it will clarify the level of transparency of the programme.

regards, Scott

HIDDEN · « **Reply #6 on:** October 30, 2007, 01:26:54 AM »

Hi Scott,

If this forum was registered in some way as an interested party then I'm sure that motour would assist. Currently they only see agents as having an interest which is of course only part of the story. It would be good to talk to one of the "movers and shakers" for thier advice. As the ministry is trying to promote MM2H worldwide it should be possible to gain their support. Maybe they would be available on one of the roadshows or other functions.

Here is a proposed agenda for that:

Get invited to one of the seminars, roadshows, events
Talk to one of the policy makers
Tell them of the high level of awareness and support for the program
Seek their support for improved levels of communication
Ask if we could write to them with a few constructive points about how MM2Hers could be more connected to MM2H and hence spend and invest more

What do you think?

Bob

HIDDEN · « **Reply #7 on:** October 30, 2007, 04:31:56 PM »

Hi Steph & BB,

Please don't mind me mentioning this.

It's probably better to deal with this elsewhere. If we discuss individual queries here we will go off topic very rapidly.

I've probably put that very badly, please excuse.

Regards

Bob

HIDDEN · « **Reply #8 on:** October 30, 2007, 10:19:16 PM »

No sweat,Thanks Bob for pointing out;-)
Steph, I couldn't either...in Kl using my tiny pda, so can't help much...getting crossed eye,hehe!
Sorry Scott, needs tidying here;-(

HIDDEN · « **Reply #9 on:** October 31, 2007, 08:37:44 PM »

hi, BB and Steph,

I've moved your posts to the Moving and Movers Board and re-titled as: Bringing in Personal Belongings

hi, Bob,

I think that the points you make in the proposed agenda are very sound. We need to become visible to MoTour.

How to register the forum as an interested party? Does anyone have any ideas?

Maybe something along the lines of a consumers association.

however, forming a MM2H group has got a bit of a poor name. The guy from the MM2H website, ExpatKL, and Expat Magazine, formed a MM2H club to offer feedback to the Government on MM2H matters. Or something like this. Anyway it seems that it allowed this guy to promote that he spoke on behalf of my2homers. My info on this is second-hand (and hearsay) so maybe someone knows something about this for the sake of clarity.

The point is, if there's already another group (or club, whatever) being used by an MM2H agency which has a vested interest, then the waters have already been muddied for establishing a non-agency independent group.

regards, Scott

HIDDEN · « **Reply #10 on:** November 01, 2007, 02:53:22 PM »

Andy Davison, editor and publisher of the of ExPat Magazine does have a MM2H Club or group. I think Membership is RM125/year. There are certain benefits which are closely allied to his business interests, and his wine & Dining clubs. I think there is a monthly email/newsletter which goes out to members and includes updates to the MM2H scheme. However all the info is in the public domain already.
I don't think this group is used in any way to lobby on behalf of MM2H members so there may be scope to somehow use this forum. Certainly there is some very useful feedback here which could prove useful to the Ministry's if they could be bothered to use it.

HIDDEN · « **Reply #11 on:** November 01, 2007, 05:09:10 PM »

Hi Fizzy,

All good points there,

Your comments show why this forum is an ideal link between the Ministry and it's customers. For these reasons; it is independant, it is constructive and it reflects the views of real people involved with the MM2H program.

Dutch couple's MM2H nightmare
Please follow this link for a dreadful but not I fear uncommon experience, surely no one wants this,
http://www.dailyexpress.com.my/news.cfm?NewsID=53344

Bob

HIDDEN · « **Reply #12 on:** November 01, 2007, 07:01:40 PM »

Hi Bob.
What a horror story. I am amazed the Dutch couple persevered. Many others would have said 'stuff it' at a much earlier juncture.

Also see the interesting post earlier today by mourad Here

There is no doubt people are being put off by the unnecessary bureaucracy and lack of a common approach & Civil Servant who don't have a clue and couldn't care less. They will still get their salary no matter what!

News:

Communications with the Ministry