KUCHING: Sarawak will issue licences to agents for its Sarawak-Malaysia My Second Home (S-MM2H) programme from next year.
State Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said his ministry had been empowered to take charge of local tourism business licences on S-MM2H.
This was conveyed in a July 2 letter from the federal Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry, he added.
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"With this delegation of power, we have been given the authority to decide on the terms and conditions for applicants as well as agents.
"This represents a significant achievement for my ministry in expanding the functionality of the current S-MM2H one-stop centre, not only to the extent of processing applications but also the licensing of S-MM2H agents," he told a press conference here on Thursday (Oct 31).
Karim said the new licensing requirements for S-MM2H agents would take effect from Jan 1.
He said agents intending to apply must be Sarawak-owned companies with no foreigners on their board of directors and a paid-up capital of RM100,000.
"The shareholders must not hold shares in another company that is also a licensed S-MM2H agent. This is because we don't want a monopoly," he said.
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He added that existing S-MM2H agents would have to reapply under these new requirements.
He said 40 agents in the state were previously licensed by Putrajaya but their licences were not renewed pending the delegation of power to Sarawak.
Karim also said the application requirements for the S-MM2H programme had been enhanced following the delegation of power to his ministry.
Among others, participants must place a fixed deposit of RM500,000 for each application, including spouses and dependents.
Previously, participants were required to place a fixed deposit amount of RM150,000 for individuals and RM300,000 for couples.
Applicants will also be required to pay a one-off processing fee of RM5,000 to the state Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Ministry.
Karim said the enhanced requirements would also come into effect on Jan 1.
He said the requirements for applicants and new licensing for agents were approved by the state Cabinet on Oct 24.
