Date: 8 January 2013
Malaysia offers Saudis MM2H program.
(MENAFN - Arab News) More and more foreigners are now making
use of the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) program as over 20,000 expatriates
have settled in the Southeast Asian country since its launch 10 years ago, said
Malaysian Consul General Mohammed Khalid Abbasi Abdul Razak. He called on
Saudis to consider this impressive program, saying it is affordable and
worthwhile.
"The government has approved 2,387 MM2H applications in
2011, and last year it had targeted 3,000 approvals," Razak said while
giving his keynote speech at an MM2H seminar here Sunday that was attended by
representatives of travel agencies, airlines, businesses and the media.
He said Malaysia's warm climate, political stability and
modern economy were attracting more foreigners to settle in the country.
"With the re-branding of the MM2H since 2009, the new direction of the
program is to attract not only foreigners looking to stay long-term or retire
in Malaysia, but also high net-worth individuals looking to invest in Malaysia,
either by setting up their business or by partnering with Malaysian
entrepreneurs," he explained.
Malaysia is placed third, after Ecuador and Panama, on a
list of 22 "World's Top Retirement Havens in 2013" by the travel Web
magazine, Internationalliving.com. The list was compiled based on a survey on
several factors affecting retirees in each country including real estate
prices, special benefits and infrastructure for retirees, overall cost of
living, medical and health facilities and climate.
The e-magazine described Malaysia as Asia's most desirable
destination "having everything" from its tropical weather of 27C all
year round and its pristine beaches, islands and jungles. It has some of the
region's best street food, great restaurants, bars, shopping malls and movie
theaters and prices are affordable. "Malaysia is an easy place for
expatriates to make friends, as English is widely spoken while having the state
of the art and medical centers of excellence," Razak said, quoting the
magazine.
The seminar was organized by Tourism Malaysia office in
Jeddah to educate Saudis as well as foreign workers in the Kingdom about MM2H
program and its incentives. MM2H is a government-endorsed program introduced in
2002 specifically to attract foreigners wishing to live a meaningful and
affordable life in Malaysia for extended periods. Participants of the program
are given a social visit pass and multiple-entry visa from the Malaysian
Immigration Department, which is good for 10 years and is renewable.
"Both documents give MM2H participants the freedom to
enter and leave Malaysia whenever they wish with special green lane at the
airport. Among the incentives are house and car purchases and tax exemption on
pensions and foreign income brought into the country. It also enables their
children to study in the best international schools in Malaysia," he said.
"We have been receiving quite a number of Middle East
participants in this program," said the consul general. In 2011, MM2H
participants from the Middle East reached 327. As for 2012 until month of
September, the figures have already reached 210 participants from the Middle
East.
Razak announced that beginning March, Malaysia Airlines
(MAS) would be operating daily flights on Jeddah-Kuala Lumpur sector. MAS also
will be offering special tourism packages.
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