KUALA LUMPUR: The Tourism, Arts, and Culture Ministry has assured that the relaxation of requirements for the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme will not compromise national security.
In a parliamentary written reply yesterday, Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing said that the current security screening process conducted by the police on MM2H applicants would remain unchanged.
"The security screening process is to ensure that only applicants with no criminal records, and who pose no threat to the country are eligible to participate in the MM2H programme," he said, in response to Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin (PN-Masjid Tanah).
Mas Ermieyati had enquired about MM2H applications and approval rates from the previous year, as well as the implications of relaxing the programme's requirements, such as security screenings for participants.
The new MM2H guidelines, approved by the cabinet, are more relaxed than in 2021.
They featured reduced fixed deposit, offshore income, and liquid asset requirements, but introduced a new mandatory requirement for property purchases by MM2H holders.
As of May 31, there are 57,608 active MM2H visa holders, comprising 28,312 principal visa holders, and 29,296 dependents.