GEORGE TOWN: Penang has applauded the Federal Government's decision to review the strict requirements of the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme.
State Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin also welcomed the proactive action towards allowing visa-on-arrival (VOA) for the international visitors from China and India.
Yeoh believed the recent discussion between Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing and Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Ruji Ubi was a crucial step in the right direction towards creating a more welcoming environment for international visitors.
"Imagine how much it will benefit our country, if we implement our policies to achieve effectiveness and efficiency in this challenging economic climate.
"The review for MM2H and VOA will be critical components for our country and I wish that people will start to recognise their potential," he said today.
Yeoh has always been a strong advocate to have a more streamlined and efficient process for immigration that will encourage more visitors to come to Malaysia.
He said it would boost all industries, especially tourism and promote economic growth for the country as a whole.
"The federal government's commitment to re-evaluate both the MM2H and VOA underscores our commitment and support for progressive immigration policies to position Malaysia as one of the top welcoming countries in Southeast Asia," he added.
According to the MM2H Consultant Association (MM2HCA), stricter conditions had caused a 90 per cent drop in the number of MM2H applicants after the conditions were introduced in 2021.
MM2HCA president Anthony Liew said last week that he believed the market for the MM2H programme had dropped by 90 per cent with the new requirements.
The tightened terms included quadrupling of minimum monthly income requirements, tripling in the physical presence requirement, raising of minimum bank deposit requirement and increase in the liquid assets requirement.
Prior to this, Yeoh had said that many expatriates would shun Malaysia for neighbouring countries if the authorities did not ease the overly strict conditions introduced for new applicants of the MM2H programme.