The MM2H programme was launched on January 21, 2022, under the Immigration Department. According to the revised policy, authorities have received a total of 111 applications for Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme, indicating that the programme is still popular despite the stiffer restrictions.

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In the end, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin stated that this figure was similar to the average number of applications received under the previous regime. "This shows that, despite the stiffer restrictions, foreigners are still interested in the MM2H programme," he added, noting that the previous average number of applications was around 100 per month.

 

On Friday, he spoke to media after inaugurating the MM2H executive lounge at the Immigration Department's headquarters (Jan 21). Twelve main applicants were given conditional approval out of the new applications. Three more have gone on to be successful MM2H participants. Hamzah pointed out that if 1,000 new applications needing a RM1 million fixed deposit were accepted in a year, the country would have RM1 billion in fixed deposits, compared to RM300 million previously when the needed fixed deposit was RM300,000.

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The government established ten new requirements for anyone interested in participating in the programme in August of last year, including RM1.5 million in liquid assets, RM40,000 in monthly offshore income, RM1 million in Malaysian fixed deposits, and an additional RM50,000 per dependent. Existing MM2H pass holders only have to comply with two of the ten additional conditions: a cost increase from RM90 to RM500 per year and a requirement to stay in the country for at least 90 days per year. According to official data, 55,010 people took part in the MM2H, which included both principle pass holders and their dependents.

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The MM2H executive lounge offers amenities such as a designated location for participants to pick up their passes and seek help from programme administrators. The Immigration Department, which had taken over the program's supervision from the Ministry of Tourism, Arts, and Culture, had also made it easier to apply by allowing forms and payments to be submitted online. When Malaysia closed its borders because to the pandemic in 2020, applications for MM2H were suspended, but were later reinstated with new criteria in place late last year.