Sarawak’s unique MM2H programme has been refined, and the new requirements are now in place.
The Sarawak-Malaysia My Second Home (S-MM2H) programme’s requirements have been updated and are now in effect, according to Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Minister Dato’ Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah.
The first update concerns the Age Category 30-39 years, requiring applicants to own a residential house in Sarawak worth at least RM600,000, or have children under 21 continuing their studies in Sarawak with a student pass. It also applies to those undergoing long-term medical treatment in Sarawak, certified by a registered physician.
These refined requirements became effective on August 1, 2023.
The second update involves the Work/Investment Allowed under S-MM2H, following the Malaysian Immigration Circular No. 01 of 2022: New Policy for the MM2H Programme. Participants aged 50 and above are allowed to work as part-time lecturers, ‘sleeping partners’ in companies with 51% Sarawakian equity and 49% foreigner equity, or part-time roles in sectors approved by the Immigration Labour Monitoring Unit (Ilmu) of the Sarawak Premier’s Department.
Since Sarawak adopted the MM2H programme in 2007, the ministry has approved 2,093 participants. Refining requirements from September 1, 2022, led to 411 successful applicants in 2022 – a significant increase from 2021. This took place in tandem with the suspension of Malaysia’s federal MM2H programme, followed by its resumption with much stricter requirements, leading to a massive plunge in applicants, and all but certainly driving interest to the Sarawak programme.
From January to July of this year, 349 S-MM2H participants were approved. During the August 1 S-MM2H Coordination Committee Meeting, 57 applicants were approved, bringing the 2023 total to 406.
The MM2H programme, a broader version of the ‘Silver Hair Programme’ which launched back in 1987, encourages foreigners to stay and contribute to Malaysia. Sarawak has been actively promoting MM2H since January 2007.
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