triage

Does anyone have an official source on the fact that existing MM2H holders will not be grandfathered on renewal?

That is not mentioned in the article and I have not seen it anywhere except from commenters speculating.

It seems extraordinary, even for Malaysia, that they would effectively kick people out who have made a home here for 10 years...

GreenState

The current government is broke, and it wants to milk the foreigners.
GO WHERE YOU ARE TREATED THE BEST.

triage

https://www.thesundaily.my/business/...stry-DI8192027

"Wan Ahmad Dahlan said the implementation of new MM2H policies applies to all new applications and applications of extension for existing participants whose MM2H passes have ended or will end."

wow.

StillSearching

Broke is not a reason.
Muslim ban cost to the US was 21 billion dollars! Trump still went with this policy despite the damage to the economy. Why? Racism.

How do you think immigration department here came up with these requirements? They have all the financial data on MM2Hers. Easy to determine what 95% of MM2Hers can't afford. This way you don't need to declare a ban on foreigners, but just simply make the requirements tougher.

Do you think the government doesn't know that they will lose a lot of money and will damage their economy with such political move? Yes, they know.

Epicurious

Many of the comments are worth reading. 95% are unhappy. "The trust is gone" is a common refrain.

StillSearching

These two also change their rules.
Regarding Malta, their immigration officials don't even follow the rules written by their own visa program department.
On the question how much taxes do we pay on recuperated money and how the government determines which money is recuperated, their answer was that it is determined by a tax official upon presenting all your finances and spending in the country every year. It looks simple enough! Basically, how much can you afford?!

GreenState

It's interesting that you brought Trump into the equation. The Chinese participation in the MM2H is north of 30%, but the US MM2H part is just a blip in the radar.
So, who do you think this last change is aimed at? Many Chinese got their visas, bought properties, but hardly set their foot in MY.
I suspect this a political stunt by the current admin which may not be around too long after the parliament is reopened.

I just wish that Biden would waived the vaccine's patent for a year or so in some countries like India and SE Asia in order to relief the regional Covid-19 burden.

Strider24

Our daughter is looking at "The Greece Golden Visa" option. Really worth a look. I fear we are finished in Malaysia. RM40k we simply couldn't spend apart from total loss of trust in Malaysian Government and all the rest of these "I don't want you" measures.

StillSearching

I only compared with Trump administration for two reasons: 1) economical damage by the ban and 2) reverse Muslim ban here.
Look what nationalities are in MM2H: www.mm2h.com/mm2h-statistics/
Standing on the opposite side, how do you feel when a ban in a form of high monitory bar is directed against you?
If they wanted to restrict certain nationalities they would do what e.g. Canada does- there is a quota for Chinese nationals there. But new rules here are for everyone. Perhaps they don't want non-Muslim people here? It looks like they don't want much of us in general.

StillSearching

- probably not a good suggestion at the time of wild fire rampage in Greek forests.
Also many houses are not insulated. They freeze in cold weather and suffer from heat in hot weather...

Is anyone concerned about climate change? Is anyone looking for a place without fires and floods, without shortage of water, without extreme heat, and with clean air?

Flyguy

The South of France is lovely.
High taxes mind you, so don't plan on being there more than 6 months of the year.
Some French language skills help a lot too.

RedApe

Negatives for some (but not for me):
You can't work in the country on this visa. It's not a pathway to a PR or Citizenship. There is no free healthcare: you need to get health insurance. You can't preach or participate in political protest or partisan politics. You will need to get a health check that tests for communicable diseases and drug abuse. They have eliminated most of the "perks" like that customs tax waivers of cars (though that was eliminated by the Federal government)

If you or your spouse are over 50 and you can either find a Sarawakian as a sponsor, or willing to pay an agent then there is very little that is a problem provided you can maintain the financial requirements. For over 50's one has the option to use income /pension as sufficient financial proof and that's a reasonable RM7500/mo for a single (@US$1830), and RM10,000/mo couple (@ US$2440). OR you can apply a Fixed Deposit in a local bank: RM150K US$36,600) single or RM300K US$73,200) couples. If you decide to buy a condo/house, or have medical needs, or want to buy a car, or have kids still in local schools...you can take/get reimbursed up to 40% of that deposit. They require 60% of that to remain throughout the term of the visa.

Those over 50 don't have to buy property...but if you do there is a floor of $600,000 in Kuching and $500,000 elsewhere. So no lean-tos on the beach. Oh and you can't by native land (though you can rent). Pets are usually banned from condos.

There is no self-application and no on-line procedure...so you actually have to physically come to Sarawak to submit the application and take the requisite health check-up, establish an SMM2H fixed deposit, and get some documents signed and notarised.

Prices aren't that different from the Peninsula, Grab is affordable, Public buses are cheap (RM1) but limited in routes. Crime is low, low, low. There are two seasons - one in which it rains about once a day, and then the rainy season. It's almost always warm to hot except in the mountains. The smoke hasn't been an issue now for over two years and the skies are quite clear.

People are pretty compliant with wearing masks and Sarawak has one of the highest vaccination rates in Malaysia...and that includes many distant rural communities. Compared with the Peninsula there is less ethnic/intereligious antagonism-the population is about 1/3 Chinese, 1/3 Dayak, and 1/3 Malay. Similar split between the religions. Lots of intermarriages.

Pre-Covid Lots of festivals, nice river, close to the beaches (and there are condos to live there...though you'd need a car). A dozen State or National Parks within an hour of Kuching. Nature and Indigenous Cultural tourism is the primary focus, not touring pop stars or opera/plays.

There is only a small expat population but that might double it seems. That might increase entertainment and dining options point Covid. It was already a bit of a "Foodie Town" but not many high end restaurants.

Museum is closed but should open, post covid. Opening has been delayed about three times.

There are few international airfreights except Singapore and (ahem) Brunei...again getting a critical mass of foreign travellers may stabilise the once existing flights to China and Indonesia...maybe Thailand. And if there were a lot of Australians, even there. Currently no international tourists. And the mail from the US takes over 2 months. I think it's delivered by rowboat.

deptrai

Thank you. It really doesn't appear to be very troublesome. We're already over age 50 and the fixed deposit amount isn't a problem. We've been to Kuching and it isn't for us (to live). 15 days a year is certainly tolerable. One of my concerns would be if they change the rules like the federal program just has.

RedApe

Yes, they could. But there is precedent. They've changed the program twice over twenty years and both times they allowed the applicants under the old system to continue under those rules. This can be a hassle for staff, so the ask S-MM2H applicants to bring a copy of their original letter of approval (which might be 20 years old) at renewal.

Also I think that many people think a lot of the problem in the Peninsula was fomented by Malay politicians. Former PM Mahathir pushed the idea that the Johor "Forest City" enclave was creating a state within a state for Chinese, that they would eventually get PR and citizenship, etc. The Sultan gave the islands special "tax free port" status. Whether he really believed this or whether this was a personal spat with the Sultan of Johor with whom there was bad blood is in dispute. Include in this similar plans of such islands in Penang. But there is a general thought that somehow MM2H is allowing in organised crime, drug lords, and assorted criminals...though I know of only a handful of criminal cases against MM2H holders, most related to domestic violence....not crimes against Malaysians.

GreenState

IMO, this knee-jerk policy change by the interior minister is only temporary until a new govt takes over.
I won't be surprised if Muhyiddin's admin gets dissolved, and followed by a snap election this year.
There's one thing that Covid-19 is good at, it exposes every weaknesses of all systems in this world.

BTW, Canadian quota on Chinese is backfiring because it has attracted mainly the snobby rich people, not the hard working and productive ones.
All it does is driving property values in metro cities through the roof.

Stay safe and healthy.