Applications for MM2H temporarily frozen due to programme being reviewed, says Nancy

KUCHING: New applications for Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) have been temporarily frozen as the programme is being reviewed, says Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri.

The Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister said the review was aimed at improving the MM2H programme and the approval process.

"During the movement control order (MCO), we discovered that there is a lot we can do to improve the MM2H programme.

"So the government is using this opportunity during the MCO to review the programme, looking into its activities and also the process involved in the approval," she told reporters after visiting the Songket and Keringkam Gallery here on Thursday (July 2).

Nancy was commenting on reports that MM2H applications had been frozen while the MM2H office at the ministry had been closed and moved to the Immigration Department.

She said the Immigration Department was re-looking the approval process while the ministry was also conducting a study into the programme.

"We're targeting to get everything done by December. It's not a permanent closure because the programme contributes to our economy.

"It should resume by next year. We can't afford to leave it frozen for a long time as it involves money for the country," Nancy said.

Meanwhile, state Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the temporary freeze only applied to Peninsular Malaysia.

"In Sarawak, it is still ongoing. This is because Sarawak has its own immigration and land policies," he said, adding that the state Cabinet approved a number of MM2H applications at its last meeting recently.