KUALA LUMPUR – Sarawak has blasted the federal Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (Motac) for its move to suddenly stop the operations of Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) agents.
This comes a day after Sabah also expressed shock at the decision.
Sarawak’s Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said both Bornean states have autonomy over their immigration and tourism matters.
Motac should have consulted the states before making its announcement, he added.
“The autonomy is with us and we have the immigration right on this.
“We will not rock the boat but we would expect the federal government, through Motac, to be considerate with the policy we’ve had,” he was reported as saying after visiting the Rainforest World Music Festival site at the Sarawak Cultural Village today, according to Bernama.
Karim said Motac in a circular dated May 27 had instructed all MM2H agents to stop issuing permit renewals or extensions.
“This has affected Sabah and Sarawak because we have our own conditions for our MM2H programme which is slightly different from West Malaysia.
“If Motac does not want to continue the programme because they are considering cto create their own policy, then implement that policy in the peninsula only. Do not interfere with Sabah and Sarawak,” he said.
Karim also slammed Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing, who, as a Sarawakian, should have known that Sabah and Sarawak would want to be consulted by the federal government before decisions affecting them are made.
Yesterday, Sabah’s Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew also stated her unhappiness with Motac’s decision which she said caused “abrupt disruption” to the state’s plans to hold a Sabah MM2H launch on June 1.
She also revealed to media that Motac’s circular on May 27 had ordered all licensed MM2H agents to cease their operations.
Her office then wrote to Motac seeking a review of the decision, and if none was forthcoming, Sabah may bypass Putrajaya’s directive and develop its own processes for a similar MM2H programme in the state, Liew said.
“Failing which, my ministry will appoint and authorise state representatives to process the applications of potential applicants for the Sabah MM2H programme,” Liew was quoted as saying.
Motac’s decision to stop MM2H agents from operating appears to not have been announced in public.
In April, Tiong was reported saying that Motac was vetting and regulating all MM2H agents, as the ministry was now the main promoter and marketer of the programme.
He also said programme applicants were being charged hefty fees by agents, and he encouraged them to use Motac’s one-stop centre for MM2H matters. – June 7, 2024