KUALA LUMPUR: The Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry has been advised to discuss first with Sarawak and Sabah if there are 'conflicts' in the implementation of the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme instead of bulldozing the rights of the two states, a senior Sarawak minister said
Sarawak Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah also urged the federal government, through the ministry, to respect the endorsement of the MM2H programme by the state, as well as its policies.
Abdul Karim also reminded the ministry of the Sarawak government's autonomy on immigration rights but said "we will not want to rock the boat."
"The matter should be discussed if there are any conflicts instead of one party bulldozing their rights. This is what I have noticed... Motac (Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture) has been bulldozing it by pointing out what is and isn't allowed," he told reporters after inspecting the Sarawak Cultural Village (SCV), Santubong in Sarawak.
Karim said this in response to reports that MOTAC decided to scrap permits for all agencies operating the MM2H programme in Sarawak and Sabah with immediate effect."
He warned that such a move will likely create a setback for the Sarawak and Sabah MM2H programme, as these two states have different conditions compared to Peninsular Malaysia.
"We expect the federal government, through Motac, to be considerate on what we have been doing in Sarawak.
" All the policies and conditions outlined (in the MM2H programme in Sarawak) have been tabled and approved by the (state) Cabinet.
"Then, here comes the federal minister who pushes these things out of the way, thinking he is that big," Karim said.
It was reported that the Sabah-MM2H programme that was supposed to be launched by June 1 has been postponed.
State Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew said she was suprised to learn that Motac has suspended the operations of all licensed agents in processing new applications, with immediate effect.
She added that the state government, through the ministry, had engaged with the relevant departments and agencies to make sure applications for participation in the Sabah-MM2H programme can be processed as smoothly as possible.