Motac decision to suspend MM2H agents made without consultation, says S’wak minister

KUCHING: Sarawak wants to know why the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) has suspended the operations of Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) agents in Borneo states without prior discussion.

State Tourism, Creative Industries and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said he was “very disappointed” with the move, especially because his federal counterpart Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing is also from Sarawak.

Abdul Karim said Motac should have discussed the matter with Sabah and Sarawak rather than pushing it through, given the different MM2H conditions between the peninsula and the Borneo states.

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“On May 27, Motac issued a cease-and-desist order for all licensed agents processing MM2H applications, including those in Sabah and Sarawak.

“This has crippled the MM2H programme in Sabah and Sarawak,” he told reporters after inspecting preparations for the Rainforest World Music Festival at the Sarawak Cultural Village on Friday (June 7).

Abdul Karim’s criticism comes after Sabah said it could consider continuing with its own MM2H program regardless of Motac’s instructions.

On Thursday (June 6), Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew said the directive had thwarted the state’s plans to roll out its MM2H programme.

She said her ministry would instead appoint and authorise state representatives to process applications for the Sabah MM2H programme.

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Abdul Karim also said that the conditions for the MM2H programme in Sabah and Sarawak are different from those in Peninsular Malaysia as both states have immigration autonomy.

“For example, applicants in Sarawak only need to deposit a fixed deposit of RM150,000, compared to RM1 million in the peninsula.

“This is why applications for the Sarawak MM2H programme have increased by 90%, while they have decreased by 90% on the peninsula,” he said.

Abdul Karim said if the ministry’s directive was to pave the way for a new policy, it should only apply to Peninsular Malaysia and not to Sabah and Sarawak.

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“Any changes affecting Sabah and Sarawak should be discussed with us first, rather than Motac making decisions alone and expecting both states to follow them,” he said.

Abdul Karim also said the Sarawak government would pursue the matter with the federal government.

“We will not cause any uproar. However, we expect the federal government through Motac to consider our MM2H guidelines, which have been approved by the state cabinet.

“And then comes the federal minister, who pushes the issue aside and thinks he is bigger,” he said.