Foreigners under MM2H now allowed to return if certified virus-free

PETALING JAYA: The government will allow Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme members who are currently stranded abroad to return home to the country starting Sunday (May 17), says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

However, the Senior Minister (Security) said the foreigners who wanted to return to Malaysia would have to undergo Covid-19 testing at the place they were in presently and must be certified free of the virus before they were allowed to fly back in.

Upon arriving in Malaysia, they would have to be quarantined for 14 days, he added.

“If they are positive, they won’t be allowed to come back here.

"Once they are in Malaysia, they will be quarantined because they would have mixed with other passengers in the flight. The cost of quarantine will be borne by them, ” he told a press conference on Saturday (May 16).

Ismail said the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry (Motac) had made the request to the government to allow MM2H members to return here.

The MM2H programme is under the purview of the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry.

Since the inception of the MM2H programme in 2002, the government has given approvals to some 48,000 foreigners to reside in Malaysia.

Participants of the programme enjoy the privilege of a Social Visit Pass, a multiple entry of 10 years and renewable visa.

The programme has gained popularity and has become one of the world's most popular resident-by-investment programme.

Ismail also said tour agencies would be allowed to open to carry out administrative, financial and management obligations over their tour packages.

“They can prepare for their future packages as tourism is still on the negative list for now, ” he said.

Ismail also said that they would not allow the operators of ferry services to and from Pulau Langkawi to raise the price of their fares, saying that the price of fuel had decreased.