Re: Actual Changes : Effective 13th February 2009

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Hello !

There are a few good news on the official web page of MM2H (http://www.mm2h.gov.my/announcement.php) 

As for me the good news is that I will be able to open and participate actively to my own business....and there are good news for many of you I guess.

Rgds,

Mary

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Well spotted Mary;

See information from the MoTour website below:

ANNOUNCEMENT
In line with the Immigration Circular No. 6 of 2009, the following improvements have been made to the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) Programme, with effect from 13 February 2009:

1. Qualified MM2H participants aged 50 and above with specialised skills and expertise that are required in the critical sectors of the economy, are allowed to work not more than 20 hours per week.

The approval to work part-time is subject to the following conditions:

a) the application is approved by the MM2H Special Committee;
b) the work contract needs to state that the MM2H participant is working part time and to attach the work schedule; and
c) total number of hours of week does not exceed 20 hours.

2. MM2H participants are allowed to invest and actively participate in business, subject to existing Government policies, regulations and guidelines which are in force for the relevant sectors.

3. Foreign spouses of Malaysian nationals are eligible to apply for MM2H, subject to the terms and conditions of the MM2H programme. Alternatively, they have the option to apply for the Spouse Programme.

4. The ten-year Social Visit Pass is extended to all Silver Hair and MM2H participants who were previously approved under the five-year Social Visit Pass, subject to the validity of their passports.

5. Employment Pass holders who wish to participate in the MM2H programme are exempted from the “cooling off period” on the condition that their application to participate in MM2H programme is submitted 3 months before the expiry of the Employment Pass.

6. ID-Cards will be issued to MM2H participants with permanent address in Malaysia. This is validated by submitting the Sales and Purchase Agreement or Tenancy Agreement in Malaysia.

7. Age limit of unmarried dependent children is raised from 18 years to 21 years. A declaration stating that the child is unmarried and all expenses during the stay in Malaysia will be borne by the principal participant of the MM2H program is required.

8. ‘Dependants’ include unmarried children aged 21 years and below, step-children, disabled children and parents.

Should you have any enquiries please contact the following:

MALAYSIA MY SECOND HOME CENTRE (MM2H)
Ministry of Tourism Malaysia,
Level 23, Menara Dato' Onn,
Putra World Trade Centre,
50695 Kuala Lumpur, MALAYSIA

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hi,

Thanks for posting it FCS, and well spotted Mary. And you're right about the business bit, Mary. Lots of opportunities.

Personally, I've always really liked the idea of mm2h being a retirement visa scheme, as being a "retirement tourist" is such a comfortable and non-contentious issue. On the other hand chances for employment and businesses opens up the whole scheme to a wider group of folks, and that's just great.

On the subject of businesses, I recently read that the issue of bumiputra share is being discussed by the government. Maybe I'll open a new thread to keep track of this issue as it could now be of direct interest.

regards, Scott

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So I do not qualify for the MM2H ID card unless I own property in Malaysia or rent a property?  If I have no ID card does that mean my current MM2H visa would be invalid under the new rules ???...Jim,USA

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So I do not qualify for the MM2H ID card unless I own property in Malaysia or rent a property?  If I have no ID card does that mean my current MM2H visa would be invalid under the new rules ???...Jim,USA

The rules are quite clear,thus

ID-Cards will be issued to MM2H participants with permanent address in Malaysia. This is validated by submitting the Sales and Purchase Agreement or Tenancy Agreement in Malaysia.

My understanding is thst you do not need an ID card to validate your MM2H visa- if you want one issued, a tenancy agreement will constitute a permanent address-if you do not own a property will suffice.

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My point is this:  All MM2H visa holders should be treated the same regarding ID cards.  If you get an ID card all should regardless if one owns/rents in Malaysia.  Indeed, having the MM2H ID card to show a bank official, seller, real estate agents might be very helpful if one decides to look for a place to rent or purchase.  Now I am curious- very curious- the rationale for this decision.  This is blatantly unfair  ...Jim, USA   

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What is so difficult in getting a Tenancy Agreement since you mentioned that this MM2H ID-Card is so useful which I totally agree with you?  There must be a reason why the government is confining to those who can be contacted at their permanent addresses in Malaysia. The trick here is to get hold  of the tenancy agreement by approaching a friend to offer to rent a room or even a house. Draft up the agreement and get it stamped at the the IRD (Inland Revenue Department or better known as Income Tax Dept). I did one for a friend for other purpose where the stamp duty is about RM 100 for the monthly rental of  RM 700. I believe it cost so much lesser for a room rental of RM 250. This is merely an exercise for you to get your hand on the MM2H ID.  Whether you eventually move in or not the authority would not know. I believe eventually  the government will open to all so long as you have an email address which I think is a surer way of getting in touch with MM2H participants rather than  house address as these people are always on the move within and outside Malaysia.

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To clarify- I do not rent or own in Malaysia and never have.  Just don't understand why the government can't issue an ID card to ALL in the MM2H program.  They can color-code them if they want to differentiate those who rent/own in Malaysia from folks like me who just visit a couple months each year.  I should have all the same benefits as any other MM2H visa holder.  What's wrong with that?...Jim     

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hi, jr6020,

I guess it's related to the way the other i-Kad's are issued. A Malaysian address if needed for them, so a Malaysian address is needed for mm2h.

I-Kads have ready been issued to the general Malaysian population, and to students, then to foreign workers, and they all need a Malaysian address. If the government allowed mm2h visa holders to get an i-Kad without a Malaysian address then they're going to get complaints from all the other folk (99% of the population) about my2homers being treated differently.

Maybe you can get your mate Obama to sort something out for you. 

regards, Scott

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Well, Scott- I was never required to have a Malaysian address to get the visa, so why should I have to have one for the ID card. The fact is MM2H is unique and we are treated differently from the I-Kad folks.  We don't come to Malaysia to work or study.  Why not offer a non-resident ID card for unique to our program and be done with it...Jim 

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Hi,

I also take the MM2H scheme as retirement scheme, but it's nice to open a small business to be in contact with others, not opening a big business to earn money, I think most of us who retired have been working enough :-) but when I make my pottery and stone carving it would be nice to sell them, and working part-time would give me the opportunity to employ a local to work with me. If MM2Hers have the opportunity to open small business it could lead to give a bit of employment to locals. This is my way of seeing the business for MM2hers.

As for the ID card, which seems to be a big issue, why is that so important ?! the most important is to have the visa on the passport, many of you have been in Malaysia without the ID card and could leave well this way ?!

I don't have the stamp on my passport yet, my visa is still under application....and hopefully will be accepted....so all of you who are already there....think of us, poor folks, freezing in Europe longing to move to this beautiful country, with some negative points like in every country, but with sooooo many positive points especially the smiling people of Malaysia and the lovely food :-)

Regards,

Mary

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Well said Mary.
I have been on the Programme for almost 7 years, and never had an ID card. Never missed not having one, and could probably well survive in the future without it.
If there are some big benefits attached to having one ...then that then becomes an issue to consider!

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hi,

As I see it, with these changes, MM2H is no longer a purely retirement scheme. Successful applicants can work part-time, and can actively run a business in return for depositing a stated amount of cash.

Sounds more like a limited employment/business scheme rather than retirement. There can't be anything especially right or wrong with this change, and there doesn't have to be, it's just a change. Maybe it really is in response to requests, and I'm sure that many folk will welcome it.

But it has changed MM2H. I'm also sure of that. Perhaps the employment/business element is a cunning plan by Immigration to get it's mitts back on the scheme. Or to attract those folks that otherwise would have gone to Thailand or elsewhere in the region.

And I also think that the authorities are looking at bigger businesses rather than smaller ones. Just as, over the years, they've been looking at bigger amounts of MM2H cash rather than smaller ones.

The really good news is the 10-years visa for the 5-year visa folk. I think that the i-Kad side is useful as an alternative to carrying my passport but it's something that I wouldn't apply for as it's another bit of data held by another government.

hi, Mary,

Hope the application is speedily processed. Please let us know how it all goes.

regards, Scott

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Wow some great changes for some and unfairness for others I know that my friend and fellow 3 1/2 year MM2er will be please with the changes, re the 10 year Visa and the ID cards , as for us, i am looking forward to my new Malaysian ID card and will frame my make shift one , we photo copied our main passport page and Visa page and had them shrink wrapped  to the size of our Malaysian Driving License' We only used our letter and passport for legal or official purposes, other than that, we have used it with no problems in shops, restaurants, Gym, Golf club Hotels and Cinema seniors prices and promotions and various other traders, so there you are, guys and girl who can't have an official ID for their own reasons:'(,  because of the rules, you can always get photo copied  and  shrink wrapped as we did
Taz

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Hi Taz,

That is also exactly what we have done, and it has sufficed over the years.

I only ever carry my original passport when I am traveling abroad