MM2H Moving Forward

[Danny]

Amended list to take note of Scotts suggestions, and one of my own (the user group)

• MM2H status to be recognised by utility companies
• Waiver or Reduction in stamp duty
• MM2H functions to be available in other parts of Malaysia
• Allow FD switching between banks
• Feedback channel by email (agreement for this to be done at approval time)
• Progression to full PR after qualifying period (e.g.10 years)
• Car purchase to be allowed after current 12 month limit
• Tax free car allowed for each Visa period
• Simplify and streamline the whole application and renewal process
• Time limit to collect visa to be extended from current 12 month limit for applicants in receipt of approval letter
• Cap the FD at current levels or scrap it (concern over RM500,000 level)
• Create online user group to liaise with Motour & Agents association
• Formula for financial criteria to allow variation due to current financial conditions

Need some more posters here,

Regards

Bob

I would like to suggest switching between FD and income option is allowed on renewal time.
For those cases where income has dropped on renewal time or on the other hand to replace the FD when a qualifying income has been resourced.

Can this list be turned into a Poll to get a list of most favorite items?

[scott]

hi, Danny,

I would like to suggest switching between FD and income option is allowed on renewal time.

The Thailand version of MM2H gives an income amount and an FD amount, and allows the applicant to decide on the mix. More of this bit means less of that bit. Clever, huh. Those smart Thais.

regards, Scott

[Qjumper]

Feedback from members.

• MM2H status to be recognised by utility companies
• Set up user group to liaise with Motour on program development
• Waiver or Reduction in stamp duty
• MM2H functions to be available in other parts of Malaysia
• Allow FD switching between banks
• Offer of volunteers to attend Q&A sessions in support of Motour
• Feedback channel by email (agreement for this to be done at approval time)
• Progression to full PR after qualifying period (e.g.10 years)
• Car purchase to be allowed after current 12 month limit
• Tax free car allowed for each Visa period
• Simplify and streamline the whole application and renewal process
• Time limit to collect visa to be extended from current 12 month limit for applicants in receipt of approval letter
• Cap the FD at current levels or scrap it (concern over RM500,000 level)
• Create online user group to liaise with Motour & Agents association
• Formula for financial criteria to allow variation due to current financial conditions
• Potential to switch between FD and income option at renewal time

It's just a list of suggestions to tweak the program to make it more attractive to potential applicants. I recognise that not all these suggestions are possible to implement. What you wont see just yet is a list of all the excellent things that Motour have done to make this program work. That is because the list of positives is too long to produce here. New applicants should have no fear, this is the program and the country to choose. Nothing else comes close.

We wouldnt be here if the Malaysian government hadn't offerred us this opportunity to live in this fantastic country. I personally would like to thank them for that.

[fizzychickensoup]

I haven't comment on this topic until now.
The reason being is that I am fairly OK with the programme as it stands, and it sure as h3ll beats the pulp out of any other type of programme so far established to attract retirees!

However as mentioned above & today in the 'car thread'....why should there be a limit on the time to buy a car. Instead allow members to buy at any time during their Visa period. Or better still have the option of allowing a tax Free car every 5 year period!

I would also like the option of buying a 'Super Bike'/ Harley D or whatever, but I am damned if I am going to buy one here at three time the real price (thanks again to two or three hundred percent duty)!

Also as Shirley proposed....let us just buy the car (or motorcycle) 'full price' and then claim the tax back at our leisure!

I would also like to see some clear benefits of having the ID card, because if the only reasons MM2Hers need one is for ID purposes, I shall give it a miss!

On the other hand if you can make speedy progress through Malaysian airports as a result of having one, I would indeed be 1st in the queue....unless a Qjumper got ahead of me

[fizzychickensoup]

It is possible to provide feedback via the new website.
Lets try that and see how efficient it is!

Check out the relevant page HERE

[Qjumper]

Hi Fizzy,

I think that would be an excellent place to see if we could liase with the Expatriate Committe. If they are open to suggestions from current & prospective MM2Hrs that would be a huge step forward.

Bob

[Qjumper]

I tried emailing them just to make contact but I am getting an error 404. Looks like their emailform is not working. Has anyone been successful with this.

Bob

[scott]

hi,

I've taken Qjumper's list of collated topics and created a new Board for this subject, with each topic having it's own thread.

Please feel free to discuss and elaborate on each topic so that we've given each a fair going-over prior to selecting a preferential wish-list to forward to MoTour.

regards, Scott

[Qjumper]

I would like to thank Scott for all the extra work involved with this.

By commenting on your specific areas of interest we can get a feel for how much support there is and what issues could be ditched.

Regards

Bob

[BillJay]

I've just returned from a trip to (expensive) Australia and was interested to read this topic. I'll just comment on a few things.

I would support the move to have MM2H status to be recognised by utlity companies. I switched from StreamyX to PenangFon which was cheaper and allowed me to pay the same deposit as locals. I wrote to TM asking if they would refund my 'foreigners' deposit) based on the fact that I had MM2H, my only home was in Penang and that my phone calls were negligible. Despite reminders I never got a reply. I gave up my house phone because the mobile phone (and Skype) was suffiicient for my needs and eventually got my RM1075 back.

I'd certainly love to be able to have dealings with Immigration here in Penang rather than incur the travel & hotel costs involved in a trip to Putrajaya.

The RM10,000 monthly income limit is probably too much for a couple but it's certainly a silly figure for a single person. Even if I had that kind of income, I don't know how I could spend that much in a month. And I live pretty well with regular meals out.

I would like people who bought their homes in Malaysia prior to applying for MM2H to be able to get RM90,000 of their FD back after one year - like those who bought afterwards. The discrimination is unfair.

Bill

[Davita]

As it seems like a slow day on this forum, and nearly a year since the last post, may I ask....has there been any resolve to the many issues characterized by this thread since started?

I'm a new MM2H'r and still looking at options...I'm not naive to think that there are give-aways by the Malaysian Government...my question is, is this useful to them or not?
If so...how can we apply for better benefits. If not, how can we escape and get our investment back?

My understanding of the policy was to permit foreigners (with value) to easily have second homes, and lifestyles, within the Peninsula. The benefit to Malaysia was foreign currency input. Did I get this wrong?

I feel that this objective may have been slightly hi-jacked by those that expected something more.
Many are looking at living in Malaysia as a 'primary residence' and I wonder if that interpretation of MM2H prevails in this objective.
Surely, that comes under the subject called 'Immigration'.
There is no doubt that, once having aspired to many years of living in Malaysia, one would have a sense of belonging.
To my knowledge, that simply does not transpire to citizenship.
I lived and worked in Hong Kong for over 16 years but am not a Chinese citizen, nor ever able to be....I knew that.
I immigrated to Canada where I enjoy citizenship...there is a difference.

Looking forward to a lively debate.

David

[papaya]

Great idea for a discussion Davita.

Maybe it depends on where you are coming from (literally)?  I think I am probably one of the few on here who is coming from a different direction - i.e. a third-world country and, believe you me, the MM2H visa is just wonderful in comparison to what I have here.

Do people want Malaysian citizenship?  Personally, as a retiree, I don't care - I'll only be on this planet another 30 years max if I'm lucky, touch bamboo.  I'm a British expat, it's what I am, and will get a British pension at some point.  I'm quite happy with MM2H status especially if they stick to the "renew on same terms".  You know exactly where you stand.

I can understand though if some of the younger MM2Hers (those still working) might want to see some citizenship status if they're in the country for a very long time.  Maybe one of the MM2H youngsters can comment.

Davita - Noted that you enjoy Canadian citizenship but (a) I presume that you probably worked there for some time and therefore are very deserving of the citizenship status, but (b) as an incentive to stay in Canada, it obviously didn't work for you as you're out in Asia with the rest of us 

MoTour could obviously do a lot more to entice more people in but I imagine it's a fine balance.  The RM 10,000 living costs is not realistic.  You can easily live on a lot less (especially outside KL and Penang) but, on the other hand, I would think that  they don't want to go too low and get into a situation where you've got all sorts of oiks coming into the country to stay - and if you want to see how that works, come and look at Thailand.

The RM 500,000+ limit on buying property really should be changed IMHO.  It doesn't affect me personally but, realistically, if someone was buying a second home (and it is MM2H) why raise the bar so far up?

But, all in all, it's a great visa system.  There you are, my few bahts worth.

[Davita]

great idea for a discussion Davita.

Thank you, papaya...somehow I knew you would be the first to stimulate the conversation.

Maybe it depends on where you are coming from (literally)?  I think I am probably one of the few on here who is coming from a different direction - i.e. a third-world country and, believe you me, the MM2H visa is just wonderful in comparison to what I have here.

The only other place, to my knowledge, is Panama. I already posted my observations here, on another thread.

Do people want Malaysian citizenship?  Personally, as a retiree, I don't care - I'll only be on this planet another 30 years max if I'm lucky, touch bamboo.  I'm a British expat, it's what I am, and will get a British pension at some point.  I'm quite happy with MM2H status especially if they stick to the "renew on same terms".  You know exactly where you stand.

I can understand though if some of the younger MM2Hers (those still working) might want to see some citizenship status if they're in the country for a very long time.  Maybe one of the MM2H youngsters can comment.

Agreed! thus my observation of how some seem to expect more.

Davita - Noted that you enjoy Canadian citizenship but (a) I presume that you probably worked there for some time and therefore are very deserving of the citizenship status, but (b) as an incentive to stay in Canada, it obviously didn't work for you as you're out in Asia with the rest of us 

Sorry papaya, both a. and b. are incorrect! I do not wish to promulgate personal details but if you are so bored as to listen to me please PM the question.

MoTour could obviously do a lot more to entice more people in but I imagine it's a fine balance.  The RM 10,000 living costs is not realistic.  You can easily live on a lot less (especially outside KL and Penang) but, on the other hand, I would think that  they don't want to go too low and get into a situation where you've got all sorts of oiks coming into the country to stay - and if you want to see how that works, come and look at Thailand.

The RM 500,000+ limit on buying property really should be changed IMHO.  It doesn't affect me personally but, realistically, if someone was buying a second home (and it is MM2H) why raise the bar so far up?

But, all in all, it's a great visa system.  There you are, my few bahts worth.

[color=][/color]Absolutely agree and well said.
Please, any others wish to contribute?[color=][/color]

David

[PK]

For me, when the time comes, citizenship is not an issue. An acceptable level of stability (for example in relation to future conditions for MMSH renewal) and security (financial and political) are the key issues. One reason for maintining a property in the UK is that there is a full back position should it ever be needed.

The valuae of the property non-citizens can purcahse (actually 300K in Sarawak when I plan to end up) may be viewed as a potential disincentive but I can see the wider rationale for this. There is a risk that overseas property speculators buying relatively low cost housing will push up costs and price locals out of the market for affordable homes.  I think I am right in saying that this has been a concern for booming areas of China.

[jac]

We see this an an opportunity to move to a country  which offers something that the UK does not (conversely we will be relinquishing things that the UK  offers) and from that perspective this is a retirement/immigration issue rather than a second home.

Our general thoughts about living in Malaysia is that when visiting we feel safe and valued as people. We have found the Malaysian people to be polite, considerate and smiling! The weather is great and the food fabulous.

If I were able to propose changes to the MM2H approvals system I would like to see more 'balance' between some of the requirements  i.e.  MM2H applicants  must presently demonstrate they have 'cash-able assets' of 350,000RM virtually disregarding the value of the equity property held in Malaysia and/or elsewhere.
Thus it is almost inviting those with cash of £70,000 (350,000RM) but no other assets to apply in preference to those with lower cash-able assets but with equity in property (and perhaps with greater overall wealth) as the latter will have difficulty in satisfying the authorities requirements in terms of liquidity.

Over time those with the 350,000 only may use that sum (say in meeting medical and other living expenses, particularly if paying rent) whereas those with cash plus property may retain some of their asset base, in some instances deriving income from the property held.

Like others I would like to see the property minimum reduce from 500,000RM as we would have liked to have purchased a smaller property perhaps close to the sea.

I think the income level of 10,000RM per month minimum is a fair sum of money each month even in the western world when  you consider the value of the UK state pension and satisfying that requirement will only become more difficult as the Asian currencies strengthen. also as income/assets reduce  how problematic might meeting the requirements (as they presently are) prove to be after the initial 10 year visa expires?

It is right that the Malaysian authorities should resist immigrants/MM2H'rs seeking to take advantage of their country but after retiree's have settled in the country for say 10 years if one then failed to meet the requirements it would be quite stressful if one had to  move elsewhere at say 70+.

The rules are what they are and as we await notification of our MM2H application we are content to abide by them.

Jac