The Ministry of Home Affairs has granted 15 new Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) participants permission to stay in Malaysia for a period of five years.

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Foreigners who meet certain criteria can stay in Malaysia for a longer period of time on a 5-year renewable Social Visit Pass with Multiple Entry Visa, according to the government proposal.

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It is open to all foreign nationals of Malaysia's diplomatic relations, regardless of race, creed, gender, or age.

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The programme has also built a service centre inside the Immigration Department in Putrajaya, dubbed the Executive Room, where participants can register and receive programme information.

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The Executive Room, according to Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, displays the government's commitment and seriousness to the MM2H programme.

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"We want to show the participants that this programme cares about them," he remarked recently during the unveiling of the Executive Room.

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He went on to say that the programme was formerly maintained by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture before being acquired by the Ministry of Home Affairs, and that it will be steadily upgraded.

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In addition, Hamzah addressed concerns that the programme is unpopular among potential participants.

"There were many rumours that this programme would not be well welcomed by foreigners, yet we have received 111 new registrations expressing interest in this programme since online applications opened in November last year, which is less than two months."

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"Today, 15 of the 111 applications that were submitted have been approved. "We'll finish the registration process for the remaining 96 as soon as we can," he stated.

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The Silver Haired initiative, which began in 1996 and displayed roughly a thousand active applicants per year, was a predecessor to the MM2H, according to Hamzah.

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"Therefore, there is no necessity to exaggerate this issue as if there were a large number of casualties."

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"Based on this, if we pass the 111 applications, they will each bring in at least a million ringgit," he said, adding that the government will be able to generate RM1 billion annually if 1,000 people are successful on average.

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Hamzah further said that the recent increase in the minimal qualification for participation aims to ensure that the programme attracts high-quality participants.

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"High-quality people are those who have the freedom to live and spend their money as they see fit.

He stated, "The vast majority of the new participants sincerely desire and deserve to be a part of our programme."