Considering MM2h...

You could ask Agents in Malaysia rather than in HK, or better still, write an email enquiry to MM2H and ask them directly.

I think this depends on the distinction between "investor" and "work". And between work "in Malaysia" and external to it. An investor needs a Malaysian partner, considerable capital, and can only do certain tasks (training, management of books, setting up the business, possibly work OUTSIDE of Malaysia and on-line, purchasing). But working on the floor where it's clear you are not "supervising" or training would raise eyebrows. You might get special government clearance to do PT work until a start-up is going.

MM2H holders can't open bank accounts for business purposes.

I thought that MM2H holders were allowed to invest in a business? How are they able to do that if the cannot open a business account?

https://mm2h.co/faqs/  Investment

Also JoyStay FAQ investment...http://www.joy-stay.com/FrequentlyAskedQuestions.html#anchor_750

It appears that almost all agents say one can invest and open a business...but under regulations/restrictions. I wonder how that can be done if you can't open a business account?

As the MM2H is a social visit pass, accounts would be in the individual's name and not for a company or business name. An investor is not involved in hands-on daytoday running either e.g. as a bank signatory.

You are not REALLY explaining HOW it could be done. You are simply saying it cannot be done with the MM2H visa holder setting up the business account.

So explain how one could be an investor (or as the MM2H agents statements say) "set up a restaurant or bookstore" in a company and not be a signatory of the accounts.  Seems really impossible unless one just "trusts" the local partner on a handshake basis.

Or is this simply false advertising on the part of MM2H (and since it seems to be boiler-plate language across agent sites I assume this is coming from the MM2H officials themselves).

From the official MM2H Site:   "Is MM2H participant allowed to do business in Malaysia?
No. The MM2H Pass is a Social Visit Pass and allows MM2H participant to long-stay in Malaysia. If MM2H participant intends to do business, he/she would need to terminate the MM2H Pass.

I am interested to invest in Malaysia. Who can I contact to get more information?
You can contact the Malaysia Industrial Development Authority at:

MIDA Headquarters
Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA) Block 4, Plaza Sentral,
Jalan Stesen Sentral 5, Kuala Lumpur Sentral,
50470 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Tel: 603-2267 3633
Fax: 603-2274 7970
Website : www.mida.gov.my
Email: [email protected]"

But compare this to the wording on the JoyStay and other sites.
"Q1: Can I open a restaurant, book shop or clinic in Malaysia under this programme?
Yes. MM2H participants are allowed to invest and actively participate in business, subject to existing Government policies, regulations and guidelines which are in force for the relevant sectors. Participants can participate in the local share market.

For more information on investing in Malaysia, please contact:
Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA)..."

Q1: I am a qualified doctor in Australia. How can I get a job in a Malaysia hospital or a private hospital? 
A: Please refer to answer of Q2 below for more details.

Q2: Can successful applicants be allowed to seek employment in Malaysia?

A: Qualified MM2H participants aged 50 and above with specialized skills and expertise that are required in the critical sectors of the economy, are allowed to work not more than 20 hours per week.

The application for the special part-time work permit must be submitted and processed by the Immigration and it is subject to the Immigration's approval.

​Please refer to the Ministry's webpage for "Apply for Part Time Job" for more details."

To open a bank account for a business, it requires an employment pass issued under that company. As it is only possible to hold one pass at a time, it would be necessary to give up the MM2H

In Malaysia it is not necessary to have a local partner in a business, but joint ventures are also possible. Companies can be owned 100% by foreigners.

Teaching has been one of the "critical sectors" for expertise transfer in the past. Medicine requires an APC and this needs a sponsor and a job/supervision period. Specialists can achieve this but still through the support of a local MD etc. But it is important to remember there is an oversupply of Malaysian doctors.

The reality is often more complex than a few lines on a website.

There are numerous rules surrounding incorporation, sectors, permitted businesses and jobs for foreigners, etc. They often catch people by surprise.

Isn't the definition of an investor that they are recompensed for their money and advice through profits from the company rather than employment and a salary? The Articles of Association are going to be vital when setting up any type of company in Malaysia.

This website is quite eye opening, as you seem to have developed an interest in this subject. http://malaysiabizadvisory.com/

It all seems very confusing...the implication from these sites is that UNDER the MM2H you Can have a business or a part-time job. For the latter a "special pass" can be obtained (presumably without giving up your MM2H status).

If that is not true why don't they simply say "you can invest but not work under the MM2H. You must give up your MM2H." in a straightforward manner. And why offer up the "part-time 20 hour statement at all". If you drop the MM2H visa, and qualify as a skilled, necessary employee...you can get a full-time work  visa (not just part-time). It's like they are offering a carrot, and then when you actually apply, they'll snatch it away.

I don't know what you are looking at. Why don't you start a thread about investing and MM2H in Sarawak so as not to confuse the two visa systems.

The peninsular Malaysia rules are nothing new. Employment passes for foreigners are under ESD or MDEC. A company director needs an EP if they are working and drawing a salary i.e. local income. So it all falls under immigration perview.

I was looking at the quote from the Joy Stay MM2H FAQ website which I provided that states:
"Q2: Can successful applicants be allowed to seek employment in Malaysia?
A: QUALIFIED MM2H PARTICIPANTS aged 50 and above with specialized skills and expertise that are required in the critical sectors of the economy, ARE ALLOWED TO WORK not more than 20 hours per week.

The application for the SPECIAL PART-TIME WORK PERMIT must be submitted and processed by the Immigration and it is subject to the Immigration's approval."

The clear implication is that you don't have to surrender your MM2H VISA but get an additional PERMIT. If it were the Malaysia DP10 Work Permit for specialist/professional employment then one could work full time (as would likely be necessary to earn the minimum RM5000 salary/month). Clearly something else is either involved here, where you can work ON a MM2H visa, without sacrificing it.

But you are correct, this probably does require a different topic though the OP was interested in whether they could start a business on a MM2H visa. Since many business owners/investors need to work at least part-time in their business ventures, rather than be passive investors, I thought it was relevant.

Yes nothing new about the part-time option under MM2H. Getting it approved is difficult though. Competition for jobs is getting higher all the time.

The Gov. MM2H website mentions teaching posts and everything else is blank after that i.e. what other sectors might be considered.

Not sure when their website was updated last, but new EP categories came into force in September 2017 and so the minimum salary level might also have changed as RM10k has now replaced the previous RM5k figure for the top flight EP. But PT would be pro rata.

I have heard that immigration is very reluctant to approve PT work for people on MM2H who say want to transfer to Malaysian branch of their current employer. Pre-retirement and winding down working hours is just not a concept here. But it is again the competition issue, and giving priority to MM2H holders for jobs would probably be highly criticised and political suicide.