Sarawak Tightens MM2H Screening as Malaysia Approves Over 22,000 Applications Since 2015

Sarawak authorities have intensified the vetting process for the state’s Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) program after they rejected applications from foreigners with health issues and “questionable backgrounds.”

The S-MM2H program has maintained immigration policy autonomy since Sarawak joined the Federation of Malaya in 1963 and has transformed from averaging 89 approvals annually between 2007 and 2020 to approving 542 applications in 2023 alone.

Tourism, Culture, and Creative Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Karim Hamzah indicates he remains vigilant about protecting the program from exploitation, expressing concern that “certain people” might come “to live here and end up committing activities relating to fraud, scams, money laundering, and prostitution” if the government doesn’t properly monitor the program.

The state recorded 560 applications last year alone. Applicants intended to “bring their families with them to Sarawak too,” according to Hamzah. The minister views this as “a big number of foreigners wanting to come to live in Sarawak,” highlighting the strong international interest in the East Malaysian state as a second home destination.

Chinese nationals represent the largest group of applicants for the Sarawak MM2H program. Hamzah attributes this trend to “similarities in culture, language, food, climate” along with “favorable costs of living and conducive living” that attract Chinese citizens to make Sarawak their second home.

Sarawak officials recently implemented marked changes to the program’s financial requirements. Since January 1, the fixed deposit requirement has increased more than threefold, with Hamzah noting that what was once “RM150,000 per individual” has now “been increased to RM500,000 per family.”

Sarawak gained full authority over permits and licensing for MM2H agents this year, allowing the state government to streamline the program’s administration without federal oversight.

Previously, applicants submitted applications through the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac), but the authority now rests with the Sarawak government, giving the state greater control over who receives approval.

Federal MM2H program registers over 22,000 applications

The federal MM2H program approved 22,282 applications out of 30,303 received between 2015 and 2024.

In Parliament, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing provided data showing Chinese citizens dominating the program with 15,053 applications and 10,830 approvals during this period.

The program peaked in 2019 when officials approved 3,598 of 7,948 applications before plummeting to just 100 applications and 77 approvals in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

After China, South Korea (2,056 approvals), Japan (1,675 approvals), and the United Kingdom (747 approvals) led successful MM2H applications.