Writer: Lin Ge
Editor: Wang Qiyue
(MM2H Programme, Source: cornerstone)
Have you heard of the MM2H programme?
It was first introduced in 1996, to provide long-term visas for retirees to stay in Malaysia. In 2002, the program underwent a revamp and was relaunched as the "Malaysia My Second Home" program. This article is based on the views of five Chinese interviewees on the MM2H programme.
Malaysia is listed as one of the best countries to live in Asia, with low cost of living, excellent infrastructure, stunning natural environment, good investment climate, high level of education system and diverse culture, and convenient visa, attracting numerous international investors to get their status and settle here through participating in the Second Home Programme.
“I think Malaysia is a nice place to live,” Zhao Haiyun(51) said, “I’ve been to Malaysia several years ago, I spent half a month in Kuala Lumpur and was very impressed with the cultural atmosphere there. Multiculturalism gives me more material to write about. I would love to be part of this programme”.Zhao Haiyun expressed his love for Malaysian culture.
Malaysia is a diverse country - multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-cultural. It is a land where the various ethnic groups come together to form a rich variety of customs and cultures. They live together in harmony and their cultures reflect each other, blending with each other to form a unique and distinctive Malaysian culture.
Xu Qian(38) said she is working in Shanghai now, where prices of goods and housing are very high, and is struggling a bit to live in Shanghai, she heard that the MM2H programme allows foreigners to buy a house at a relatively low price, so if she meets the application requirements, she will go for it.
The local governments of each state and federal territory in Malaysia have set a price threshold for foreigners to buy property in the region, and the chance to get a home loan of up to 85% of the purchase price, and the standard of living and modernisation in Malaysia is exceptionally high, and with its abundant produce and effective government economic regulation, the cost of living is one of the lowest in Asia.
What attracted Xu Qian was the lower property prices in Malaysia. Chen Hao(31) said, “I am a father of two children, both of them are still young, and I think what attracted me to the MM2H programme is that my children can receive an international education earlier, and there will be less pressure to study.”
Applicants can apply for a student visa for their child to be educated in Malaysia, either in a public or public school, or they can choose to allow their child to continue their studies back in their home country, where they can enjoy the policy for overseas Chinese students and easily gain admission to key universities in China.
“I lived in Malaysia for a year, Malaysia's infrastructure is relatively poor, the mode of travel is relatively simple and inconvenient, mobile payment is not yet fully popular, and I need to carry some cash for emergencies, I sometimes feel uncomfortable,” said Yao keyi.
The Malaysian government has always attached importance to investment and construction of infrastructure such as highways, ports, airports, communication networks and electricity. The overall quality of roads is high, but road connectivity in some areas still needs to be improved, and Malaysia's infrastructure projects are mainly focused on the transport infrastructure sector, accounting for about 55% of the total.
In recent years, Malaysia's increasing participation in China's "One Belt, One Road" initiative has opened up opportunities for Chinese companies to participate in the Malaysian infrastructure sector. The share of Chinese companies in the Malaysian infrastructure construction market has been increasing.
Xing Yangguang(26) said he had heard that in order not to affect the employment of local people, applicants would also be affected by restrictions such as their inability to apply for local jobs. So if he goes to Malaysia, the possibility exists that he will not be able to find a job if he does not start his own business.
The MM2H scheme allows applicants to run a business or independent company with tax benefits, and applicants over the age of 50 can apply for a work permit, which becomes less favourable for applicants under the age of 50.
