Sarawak My Second Home Program

NewYorker99 wrote:

Cinnamonape

The changes to the program that you suggest make a lot of sense.  It would save everyone time and money and benefit just about everyone, excluding agents.

I think that the could even allow trained, registered agents who also are told they might lose their license if they act unethically.  One ethical act is that would have to =be upfront about the opportunity of self-application and also describe specifically what services they will offer.  I'd have no issue with that if they really provided service for value.  On the peninsula they allow both possibilities, independent self-application...or using an agent.  I think some people need hand-holding. But agents could provide free publicity with their websites, help with accommodation, transport, and orientation tour of Kuching and region, assistance with buying land, getting student visas, etc.

I'm not sure if agents were invited to the Workshop. I do know that a couple of "former" agents are now involved in real estate...my sources say they are still involved in finding sponsors. It's the realtors and developers that are the stakeholders that had the connections to start the reform process/workshop. They are upset that fewer than 80 Sarawak MM2H applications come in every year. That's vs. the more than 4000 annually on the Peninsula. That's only about 2% of the total. If they marketed things correctly they could begin to supplant Penang and Johor to some degree. For Singaporean retirees it's almost less time to fly from Sarawak than to cross the causeway from Johor. Before the Federation with Malaya it was actually Singapore that had the greatest trade ties with Sarawak. Hokkien and Hakka are still widely spoken in both places. That's also an advantage in attracting retirees from China, although direct air transport is lacking. But look at the explosion of Chinese tourism in Sabah - which does have direct flights. If it was easier to get an MM2H then Sarawak would reach that tipping point where direct flights were more common.

Not having been invited to the "workshop" I don't know what their suggestions for improvements were.

NewYorker99 wrote:

That's probably why it will not happen.  Two universal truths are that governments all over the world rarely do what's logical, and common sense isn't so common.

Also "we've always done it this way". "This might have unforeseen consequences, so it needs more study" (which since it took them 2 decades to even have one workshop to discuss changes means "never". In Sarawak there is also the "We would rather not do it the way the do it in the Peninsula". Off course if the opposition party starts making suggestions there is the possibility that it will be quashed, or coopted as their own.

And despite the fact that anti-colonialism is stronger in the Peninsula...there is a bit of resentment at suggestions being made by orang putih. One needs to try and make it "their own idea". That can, of course, be difficult if the government stakeholders are extremely conservative.

czy wrote:

How's this for speed - application submitted 22nd October, got the approval letter today 10th December (actually, the approval letter was dated 3rd December)

Thanks to all who contributed to this forum, and my 'advisors' Teresa and Irene. Special thanks to Cobolin who responded promptly and amply to my personal queries

Congrats czy on your approval.

May I know the approval letter sent to you by post or you collected it at Sarawak Mm2h office .?

cinnamonape wrote:

Since Malaysians are not foreign citizens they would not be eligible for MM2H or Sarawak MM2H. It would be a good idea (in fact one I suggested) provided the Peninsular Malaysian  acted in accord with the same standards required of foreign applicants. Those conditions are a) no involvement in local Sarawakian politics, b) avoiding religious proselytisation or efforts to convert or abuse those of other faiths, c) no employment within Sarawak.

I'm not sure if there may be other means to extend visa stay lengths in Sarawak under a social visit pass...particular if a spouse or children are Sarawakian or attending school in Sarawak.

My friend is a retired single local Malaysian Chinese and a little fed up with the political situation in Malaysia especially as an ethnic Chinese, and looking at how he can move to Sarawak. Seems he is destined to either remain on the mainland, travel for 2 month stays in Sarawak (it might just as well be another country) or else retire in a foreign country. Thanks for the information though, will let him know.

1openmind wrote:

Interesting who
Isn’t fed up with politics? Personally I won’t miss them. I like the idea of
Malaysia because of the what used to be a good retirement scheme. But even then with out all the perks. It’s centrally locates to visit other nearby countries relatively cheaply.
Along with much lower cost of living and health insurance.
Just waiting to visit and finish the mm2h visa. Once the MCO is over. My agent said it’s 3 months from when we ask for the extension. That puts it out to end of June to finalize that.

Agree with those comments, centrally located city in SE Asia, affordable cost of living, cheap medical insurance, add to that good eating and shopping. That's what kept me there for 12 years and on MM2H. But I'm not into living in one place for so long so decided to leave. That and most of the places I wanted to travel to were not in Malaysia.

cinnamonape wrote:

I'm not saying it is impossible...it's just that I'm unfamiliar with any pass that might be accorded to a Malaysian who is not working in Sarawak.  He might contact the folks at MOTAC (S-MM2H Desk) or the Ministry of Immigration specifically. The latter, particularly, would be more aware of the range of visas and passes available.

Yup I told him to do just that or else to find another country to retire to.