Flyguy

The new issue of the Expat Magazine (Jan 2022) has a piece about the Sarawak MM2H program. The article mentions that Sabah and Sarawak retained control of their own immigration when they federalised with peninsular Malaya in 1963 and thus have their own version of the MM2H visa. The application conditions are very similar to the original peninsular MM2H program, and Sarawak seems to be interested in promoting MM2H there.
One question I'd like answered - and which wasn't mentioned in the article - is if one can hold BOTH the 'peninsular' MM2H Visa AND the Sarawak MM2H visa at the same time? Does anyone know?
Might be a handy backup for when they decide to mess with the peninsular MM2H program again (yeah, it'll happen).

Epicurious

There's already a long thread here about Sarawak MM2H, so it would be better to post in that. AFAIK it's not permitted to hold that and Peninsular MM2H visas concurrently.

SushiFan

My understanding is that Sarawak will not process your SMM2H application until your peninsular MM2H has expired or has been cancelled.
The SMM2H visa might have one risk, which is also mentioned in the other thread: it is unknown whether SMM2H holders will be allowed in the future to live in peninsular Malaysia. Currently that is allowed, but it is not guaranteed that it will continue to be in the future.

RedApe

You are not allowed to bear two Malaysian visas of any sort at the same time. Thus not an Employment and MM2h, or a Student Visa and a Spousal Visa. One must always be cancelled. So no...you cannot have an MM2H and an SMM2H (which is simply an MM2H issued in Sarawak, under Sarawak's immigration rules).

My view on the banning of people on SMM2H living on the Peninsula? It may not be Constitutional under the MA63 agreement, but let's put that aside for the moment. It would be very difficult procedurally. IF it's solely intended to prevent SMM2H from residing on the Peninsula....they'd have to institute a law that would prevent the purchase or rental of property by foreigners. Currently any foreigner can purchase or buy properties whether they live in Malaysia or not. There are STATE regulations that limit PURCHASE by foreigners to properties about a certain amount. Do states want to eliminate their rights to sell properties to foreigners? Some countries do prevent a foreigner from purchasing property (even businesses) but renting?

The other possibility is that Malaysia could restrict staying in Malaysia for those on SMM2H to three months. They could not impose this on Sarawak...but they could, I presume, set up immigration desks at every domestic entry point to determine if the individuals entering have an SMM2H (which looks identical to an MM2H except for a small amount of text that says "issued at Kuching, Sarawak"). Couldn't a person simply hop over to Sarawak (or Singapore) and get a new three months upon return? They could do that before with a tourist visa, why would the SMM2H be more restrictive? People having to get queued up in long lines to have their passports or MyKads checked as they come in from Sabah or Sarawak? It's not just a handful of SMM2H holders that would be impacted - I'm guessing maybe 2 or 3 a day might be hopping out to "renew" their 90 days (they need 14 days in Sarawak annually in any case).

And the big picture...why? Those SMM2H holders are bringing in revenue to the Peninsula if they visit or live there. The Parliamentary Review Committee have shown that those on MM2h haven't posed a security risk in 20+ years of the program. The Home Secretary gets upset that those with the MM2H are NOT staying enough time in Malaysia...now he's trying to ban them? Especially those that are making the HIGHEST amount of investment? Why? To massage the Home Ministers hurt ego?