‘Sabah MM2H applicants should be vetted to safeguard security’

KOTA KINABALU: Strict vetting should be done for all applicants of the proposed Sabah-Malaysia My Second Home programme (MM2H), says a consumer group.

Sabah West Coast Smart Consumers Association president David Chan said there was a need to ensure only genuine participants were given approval.

He said the Immigration Department and the police should vet the applicants to ensure those taking up the programme were genuine and would not pose any security risk.

Chan said there was a possibility of bad hats, including scammers, making use of the opportunity to slip into Sabah.

“The programme is good for Sabah but we must make sure that it is not abused for illegal activities as it will tarnish the state,” Chan added.

The Sabah Cabinet had earlier this month agreed in principle to the MM2H for the state.

Sabah Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Christina Liew said the state’s package would be unique and attractive to woo foreigners to take up the programme.

She said under the tentative approved policies, applicants should meet age requirements, medical certification and set up a minimum RM200,000 fixed deposit account in Sabah.

Applicants will only be eligible to buy property (apartments) worth a minimum of RM600,000 and above, she noted.

Liew added that there must be a minimum stay of 30 days a year and the approved duration for an individual or family was for 5+5 years in Sabah only.