Just like to say thanks to everyone for their prompt replies.
It certainly has been an uphill struggle to sort everything out, but my main disappointment is that they tell us that it will take 10 working days when it in fact it takes so much longer.
I found out today that there are applications for the exemption of duty on imported cars going back to October !!! I just wish that they were more open to the time schedules for these applications. Meanwhile my car sits at the docks !! (this of course will be costing me!)
Thanks again
There are 2 stages involved. I have just got the AP for my friend for his high performance car. He actually shipped his car from Europe on the 7th January even before he applied for permission from our Ministry of Finance. The car took exactly 24 days to arrive at The Port of Singapore thereafter the local shipping agent use a smaller vessel to ship it to Port Kelang and that took exactly 7 days. And he has 7 days of port storage free of charge which is until 14th February to clear out his car. After this day is the long Chinese New year holidays.
When he approached me for help, I didn't know that he has launched the missile. So I have to work extra hard and extra polite with the Ministry people. My problem was compounded when he did not bring along the car documents that are required
For Stage 1 - Submission to Ministry of Finance (MOF) to get approval to import in a personal car 1. Fill up the MM2H/07 form which can be downloaded from
www.mm2h.gov.my. In this form, they require you to provide the chassis and the engine number. Make no mistake on this or else the custom can refuse to clear your car.
2. A certified copy of the MM2H approval letter from the Immigration Dept of Malaysia that you are a MM2H participant.
3. A certified copy of the International passport of the page that contains your personal particulars and also the multiple entry visa (MM2H Visa)
4. The ownership certificate that showed you as the owner and the DATE is very IMPORTANT. You must be the registered owner before you got your MM2H approval. I know in certain countries, this can be manipulated to your favour. Since the authorities want this document to ascertain that the car you are bringing in is not a stolen car, I told my friend to get his embassy here to certify the photocopied document. Reason: if the embassy is certifying their own country legal document, who are we to dispute them? The tricks work beautifully especially when you have lack of other document.
Note that all document which is not in English or Bahasa Malaysia needs translation done in either English or Bahasa Malaysia. I strongly suggest that you make use of the Malaysia Translators Association which all our government dept recognise. The Association actually networks all its members and assign them with work for which the translator is proficient with. The translators have all gone through a training where their work output comply with the strict government's requirement. They need 3-5 days lead time.
I submitted the application to the Ministry of Finance on 19th January and I collected the approval on 27th January which is 7 working days. Since my friend is importing his high performance, the MOF checks with MM2H on his financial background. Lucky he has more than enough money in the bank to show.
For Stage 2 - Submission to Ministry of Trade and Industry (MITI) to apply for the Approved Permit (AP) which is required to import a carThere is no form to fill up but a checklist is provided. A simple cover letter would be good. Ask them to stamp the date they received your application on your second copy for follow up. Most of the document to be submitted are the same as in Stage 1.
1) A certified copy of the MM2H approval letter from the Immigration Dept of Malaysia that you are a MM2H participant.
2) A certified copy of the International passport of the page that contains your personal particulars and also the multiple entry visa (MM2H Visa)
3) A certified copy of the Letter from the Ministry of Finance from Stage 1 for your import duty and sales tax exemption. Bring the ORIGINAL along
4) A certified copy of the motorcar registration card/certificate your as the owner
5) A certifed copy of your Driving licence. In the form it is stated International Driving Licence. My friend has none but was able to produce his country driving licence which they also accepted. I do not understand why they need this document
6) The insurance policy that has your name as the insured party. The authorities want this document to ascertain that the car you are bringing in is not a stolen car.
7) The sales invoice. I also don't understand why they need the Invoice for since you are exempted from paying any duty or sales tax. In my friend case, he has none and so I have to hook up a story that his ex wife gave the car to him as a gift!!
8) The JK 69 Custom declaration form which can be bought for RM 1.50 from the Business Centre at the Government Office Complex where the Ministry of Trade and Industry is. Very IMPORTANT : this custom declaration form must be filled up using a TYPEWRITER. I used the Government Cooperative Office ( two blocks from MITI) which provided this service for a fee of RM 10 and I just waited 15 minutes to get it done.
I submitted his application on 2nd February and collected his Approved Permit (AP) yesterday which is 9th February which is only 5 working days!!!
I advised him to appoint a forward agent and the car was cleared from customs without any problem a day later. He did not pay a single sen for storage and he got his car two days after he got his AP but he is taking a risk. The point here I want to stress is that make sure you comply. If there is any delay, most probably it is due to lack of information or incomplete submission. Always follow up with phone calls and visits to give a personal touch. They will not call you even when they ask for your contact number.
