Sabah and Sarawak

[scott]

hi,

Here's some more on Sarawak. This is an article in yesterday's Star newspaper, headlined "Sarawak wants to speed up Visa approvals."

The state government wants to speed up the approval of visas for foreigners who make the application under the MM2H. State Housing Minister Datuk Abang Johari Tun Openg said that state Assistant Minister Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman in the Chief Minister's Department had been appointed to head a special committee to look into the matter.

"We will streamline the visa application procedures for foreigners wishing to buy houses in Sarawak. This will help boost the MM2H programme," he told reporters. Johari said as the existing procedures were complicated, it took a longer time to approve the applications.

He said the state had received a growing number of applications from potential foreigner investors in Britain, Australia and Hong Kong, and that most of them were interested to buy properties in the state capital.

State Urban Development and Tourism Minister Datuk Wong Soon Koh said recently that the state was getting a poor response to the programme due to unfavourable visa and other terms.

Hey, maybe Sarawak will start to apply the same criteria as the other states. That would be nice as Kuching is a knock-out place.

regards, Scott

[ctraveling]

Thank you for previous answers to documation questions. I just had our passports certified at the Malaysian Embassy/consulate today. It went easier than I thought it would!

This may seem naive but...why does it matter what regional area one makes their application in....Penang, Sabah, Sarawak, KL..I thought once we are approved we can choose to live anywhere. Is this correct?
Thanks, ctraveling

[scott]

hi, ctraveling,

... err, not quite.

For West (peninsula) Malaysia you can make the application via KL. I understand (other members please correct this) that you can designate a State Immigration office where you wish to collect your visa, if approved. You can live anywhere in West Malaysia.

However, the West Malaysia visa is good only for the Peninsula, which includes Penang and Langkawi. The visa says "West Malaysia and Sabah" but Sabah Immigration have their own views on the "and Sabah" bit and will not allow you to stay more than a normal tourist visa. It's an anomaly.

For Sabah you need to apply to Sabah Immigration and you'll probably need to collect your visa from Sabah. The Sabah MM2H visa obviously allows you to stay in Sabah. An agent in Sabah told me that with a Sabah visa the West Malaysia bit is also thrown in but I haven't confirmed this. If anyone has a Sabah visa please post with details.

For Sarawak, the MM2H rules are interpreted differently than for West Malaysia, or even Sabah. Up to a couple of months ago there was just 1 agent in Sarawak who does not return emails. There's more on Sarawak on the previous posts.

As the MM2H requirements in Sabah and Sarawak are different, I imagine there's no reciprocity.

So, as I understand it at the moment it's:

Apply in KL = West Malaysia only.
Apply in Sabah = Sabah, and West Malaysia (to be confirmed), but not Sarawak.
Apply in Sarawak = Sarawak (West Malaysia not known), but not Sabah.

If anyone can add to the above, to confirm or correct, it would be a real help.

regards, Scott

[scott]

hi,

The Sarawak MM2H website has been updated (since I last checked) and conditions for applications re-stated. The site is at : Sarawak : Malaysia My Second Home Programme

It is still only for applicants above 50 years old. Previously it wanted a combination of the income option plus the FD option. Now it doesn't.

Requirements for Application (extract)

7) Copy of Fixed Deposit statement from any bank / financial institution in Malaysia.
OR
Copy of at least 3 months certified copies of Pay Slip / Pension for applicant 50 years and above who applied using proof of monthly off-shore income

Terms and Conditions (extract)

• Show proof of monthly off-shore income of RM10,000 such as pension scheme / royalty for married couple or RM7,000 for single applicant;
OR
• Open a fixed deposit account of RM150,000 in bank / financial institution for married couple or RM100,000 for single applicant;

The requirements seem to be pretty much what was required in Peninsula Malaysia before the introduction of agents, and before the additional need for the RM10,000 support income.

I don't know if there are any other financial requirements as the site doesn't say. So maybe not.

There doesn't seem to be a 2 stage process (submit application, conditional approval, and within 6 months show the FD). Here the application is submitted along with proof of the FD.

regards, Scott

[scott]

hi,

The latest information that I have on Sarawak is that the social visit pass for MM2H in Sarawak is also valid for the Peninsula. If anyone has such a MM2H visa, and can confirm, that would be great.

There's also now a One-Stop Agency for Sarawak.

Ms. CAROLINE CHEN
Assistant Secretary
Public Relations, ICT Unit and Sarawak/Malaysia My Second Home Programme "One Stop Agency"
Ministry of Urban Development & Tourism, Sarawak
Level 2, Bangunan Baitulmakmur (MASJA),
Medan Raya, Petra Jaya,
93050 Kuching, Sarawak
 
Tel: +6082-319306 (Direct Line) / +6082-319313 (General Line)
Fax: +6082-441277 / 445311
e-mail:  carolcty@sarawaknet.gov.my 
URL: http://www.mudtour.sarawak.gov.my

regards, Scott

[scott]

hi,

A friend of mine is in the process of deciding where to apply for MM2H, in KL or in Kuching. He sent through to me the following. An email was sent to the Sarawak One-Stop Centre, among other things it asked :

I am thinking of applying for the MM2h in Sarawak. From the website I see that as a single 55 year I need a FD of RM100,000.  Do I need to show any other amounts of funds?

... and a reply was received which stated :

For an applicant of 55 years of age, you could choose to open a fixed deposit account amounted RM 100,000.00 or show proof monthly off-shore income of RM10,000.00 (latest 3 months statement of pension or royalty scheme) to fulfil the financial requirement.

As long as you fulfil this financial requirement, you are not required to show other funds to us.

regards, Scott

[scott]

hi,

The mm2h.com website has this comment by Davison on Sarawak :

Sarawak’s version has quite a lot of differences. None of the more recent changes made to the programme have been adopted in Sarawak and some of the basic terms and conditions are quite different.

Perhaps the most significant difference is that the programme is targeted at people over 50 who wish to retire in Sarawak. The only people under 50 who are allowed to apply are people who want their children educated in Sarawak. In neither case are they allowed to take any employment in the State. Another difference is that the applicants can qualify on income alone without the need to place a Fixed Deposit. Any married couple who have an income over RM10,000 a month (RM7000 for single applicants) will qualify. Those who have a lower income have to place a Fixed Deposit of RM150,000 (RM100,000 for single applicants).

All applications must have a sponsor who must place a Personal Bond. However unlike West Malaysia where the agent can be the sponsor, in Sarawak the applicant has to be sponsored by an individual who must come from Sarawak. We did ask the authorities in Sarawak how an applicant who does not have any close friends in Sarawak can be expected to find such a person and we were not able to get a reply. Certainly it would be seem to be rather a stretch for someone who has no close ties in Sarawak to find a person willing to post a personal bond for them. It is possible that the State government only wants friends of Sarawakians to apply but we were not able to confirm this.

The Sarawak government website we visited stated that visa holders were allowed to buy properties valued over RM300,000 in designated areas which were described as Kuching, Miri and Sibu. However Tourism Malaysia website states that the housing limit is RM350,000 and does not give the restrictions on which areas they can buy. Again we were unable to obtain clarification on the correct figure but presumably the Sarawak website has the right figure. (I obtained clarification and the current figure is RM300,000 - Scott)

Unlike West Malaysia where applicants must use an agent the Sarawak state government appears to take the opposite view and their website states that the use of agents, middlemen or consultants is forbidden. The website is also a little unclear regarding renewal after the 10 year visa expires seeming to suggest that the next visa may be for a shorter duration. It states that “renewal for a period of five years to 10 years subject to the validity of the applicant’s passport”. This does not quite give the reassurance of the main programme which implies renewal will be fairly automatic for a further 10 years and so on.

It is clear there are still some questions about the Sarawak programme and we know a number of people have been put off moving to that state because of the perceived difficulty of getting approval there and questions regarding the actual terms and conditions of the programme. As an agent who actively markets the programme internationally it is hard for us to promote Sarawak when we are told we cannot submit applications to that state and therefore have no way of recovering the considerable investment we make in marketing the programme around the world.

Obviously as MM2H Agents are not allowed to operate in Sarawak there's not much incentive for them to push the programme. MM2H in Sarawak is pretty much where MM2H Peninsuala was a few years ago ie much simpler, cheaper, and hands-on.

I had no difficulty in getting a sponsor in the Peninsula, after all, I visited Malaysia to check the place out, met some Malaysians, and hey presto, several free-of-charge offers to be my sponsor. Seems like the SarawaK MM2H is being sensible by encouraging would-be applicants to visit the place, make friends, then apply.

Of course, it depends on where you stand as to what you write. Same with the renewability of the visa. I read the same phrase and looked at it as meaning that the visa will be renewed according to passport validity.

regards, Scott

 

[scott]

hi,

Here's a Bernama report (07/01/08)

More Brits Making Sarawak Second Home

KUCHING, Jan 7 (Bernama) -- More people from Britain are making Sarawak their second home under the "Malaysia: My Second Home" (MM2H) programme since it was introduced in 2002.

Sarawak Immigration director Datuk Robert Lian said his department had approved 41 applications for social visit passes from Britons under the MM2H programme.

"Last year alone, 17 Britons applied to participate in the programme," he told a press conference here today.

He said until last year, the department had issued 105 social visit passes to MM2H participants, including 45 issued last year.

"Taiwanese formed the second largest number of MM2H applicants, with 18, followed by Indonesians, with 13."

Lian also said that 4.1 tourists visited Sarawak last year with Bruneians comprising the largest number, coming through Sungai Tujuh in Miri, Tedungan and Pandauan in Limbang and Mangkalap in Lawas.

Tedungan is the busiest entry point as the small town, located in northern Sarawak, is nearest to the Brunei district of Temburong.

"Sarawak, especially Miri and Limbang, are popular with shoppers from Brunei as there are many shopping complexes with a wide variety of quality products," said Lian.

"Brunei's stronger currency than the ringgit is another factor that draws Bruneians to spend their money on accommodation and food in Sarawak."

Lian said Indonesians formed the second largest number of visitors to Sarawak, with many looking for job opportunities or visiting their relatives, and Indonesian parents visiting their children studying at the higher learning institutions.

He said to cater to the increasing number of visitor arrivals, the department would build two Immigration complexes at Lubok Antu in Sri Aman and Biawak in Lundu, both at the Sarawak-Indonesian border, under the Ninth Malaysia Plan.

He added that the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) complexes near Tedungan in Limbang and at Mangkalap in Lawas were expected to be ready this year, while the construction of the CIQ complex in Sungai Tujuh, 38km from Miri, would begin this month and should be completed in two years' time.

-- BERNAMA

So, at least we know that visas are being approved. I reckon that a MM2H Sarawak visa must be a pretty good thing so folks are keeping quiet. Any other views.

regards, Scot    

   

[scott]

hi,

My mate who is trying to get the stuff together to apply for MM2H in Sarawak asked the Sarawak One-Stop Centre if the MM2H Sarawak visa would allow travel to other parts of Malaysia, or did the usual 90-day visa apply.
 
The reply was : Sarawak's MM2H permits the holder to travel to other parts of Malaysia. It is not with the 90-days visa. If you have West Malaysia's MM2H visa then you can only enter Sarawak/Sabah for the number of days depending on the country of origin.

Maybe he asked the wrong question. What we want to know is does the Sarawak MM2H visa allow the visa holder to stay in other parts of Malaysia under the same terms and conditions - as it does in Sabah. Maybe someone out there knows.
 
He did however confirm that residential property purchases are confined to Kuching, Sibu or Miri areas which doesn't seem to be too much of a restriction as these are really great places.

regards, Scott

[riskyrisk]

Anybody know the latest on this? If one has a Sarawak MM2H can they transport it to East Malaysia? Or at least travel for extended periods?

[scott]

hi,

Anybody know the latest on this? If one has a Sarawak MM2H can they transport it to East Malaysia? Or at least travel for extended periods?

Sarawak is east Malaysia, along with Sabah. Do you mean West (Peninsula) Malaysia?

The mm2h web-site for Sabah is a waste of space as it refers all comments to the 2 or 3 agents there.  Sarawak is equally opaque. My own feeling is that you've got to visit either (or both) of these places and find out personally. Then post here please. Someone must know about mm2h in Sabah and Sarawak but they're keeping mum. Getting any clarity is next to impossible. But both Sarawak and Sabah are great places, maybe that's why folks are keeping the mm2h there on a very, very low profile.

[riskyrisk]

Yes I got my East and West (the twain shall never meet) mixed up.

http://www.mudtour.sarawak.gov.my/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=27&Itemid=77

I've been looking for an easier visa. Sarawak's web page looks recent (Dec-2009) and the forms do-able.
Really it's about having the fixed deposit. Less need for show-money and the other hoops to jump through in the West.
I suspect it's just a matter of it not getting the promotion. They'll probably bring it closer in-line with the West soon. So it might be best to apply soon...

Also there are not as many properties listed on the web. But the population is over 600,000 and some oil industry expats. So I'm sure there are plenty of bungalows and semi-d's. Maybe less condos.

A lot of it comes down to if you'd go stir crazy living in Kuching all year round.

[PK]

I am planning to move to Sarawak under the MM2H scheme in 3 or so years time (my wife has family there). Yes, the process on the Sarawak Ministry of Tourism site seems to be straight forward on the face of it. There are also differences in the scheme compared to W. Malaysia. [Incidentally, the min. price for property purchases in Sarawak is RM300,000 (as opposed to 500,000 elsewhere]. One question I am pondering is whether to apply sooner rather than later because of the possibility of conditions becoming more difficult in the future - as riskyrisk also points out. From my reading it appears that up to recently Sarawak has been less enthusiastic about the scheme (my perception may be wrong here of course). Papaya has provided some helpful comments on the timing of an application on another site. Do others feel there is any advantage in applying 3 years in advance of moving. We will be visiting Sarawak each year in the interim?

[papaya]

Just to say Hello PK.  I had no idea that there were significant differences between applying for MM2H in East or West Malaysia.

[scott]

hi,

I think that the Sabah side of things got brought into some sort of line with Peninsula Malaysia about 1 year ago. I also think that the Sarawak side of things may still be a little out-of-sync, for example at one stage the RM10,000 per month wasn't needed. When I was looking into this in 2007/08 I couldn't understand why folks didn't by-pass MoTour and go directly to Sarawak as it seemed that the requirements were that much easier. Refer Reply #18 above, and this would need to be checked to see if it's still applicable.

However, the above comments are general impressions and they're 2 or 3 years ago. Being in Perak I didn't have the time to go visit the place and find out. And even on the Sarawak & Sabah dedicated board on alloexpat there wasn't any meaningful information. I posted a couple of times asking if someone could help with some clarity but got zip.

hi, riskyrisk : my own feeling is that it's probably financially easier than in the West, and it means going there and finding out, looking for a sponsor and making the application directly (no agent) and making friends. I'd try and see the chief immigration officer and say hello. Immigration in Sarawak, immigration in Sabah, and immigration in the Peninsula, are really 3 autonomous offices, and so is mm2h in all of them.

(BTW : Kuching is great. A wonderful fort, a couple of colonial buildings, some modern shopping malls, a lovely promenade along the river. And great trips up river or across to the caves of Miri, or long weekends in Sabah.)

hi, pk : the financial requirements for mm2h have generally increased over the years. No-one that I've met talks about any easing of requirements. I haven't read anything in the newspapers that would indicate any lightening-up. A Malaysian friend of mine once told me that if you need to do anything in Malaysia that's connected with the government then do it as soon as possible because it will eventually change, and normally for the worse.

I'd prefer to live in Sarawak or Sabah rather than the Peninsula. However my mm2h visa doesn't allow this. You can't go East if you started in the West. But you can go West if you start in the East. So, if I want to stay in Sarawak on the mm2h I have to make a fresh application in Sarawak.