Malaysia’s Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) has instructed the Immigration Department to tighten surveillance of Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) participants who engage in commercial activities without the required permits.
On 22 September, Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Tiong King Sing posted on Facebook that “appropriate action must be taken to ensure compliance with MM2H conditions and prevent abuse of the programme.” He directed immigration officials to focus on individuals conducting business or employment without the proper authorisation.
Recent enforcement actions
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Meeting on 22 September – Tiong chaired a session with MOTAC and Immigration Department representatives. The agenda included:
- Lengthy security checks on MM2H applications.
- Disparities in processing times.
- Cases of participants involved in unlawful activities (no case numbers disclosed).
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Detentions – In April, the Immigration Department detained three Chinese nationals in Kuala Lumpur for allegedly using counterfeit MM2H stickers in U.S. visa applications. Their passports were seized. The arrests were linked to a prior syndicate that sold fake long‑term passes for visa fraud.
MM2H tier structure and permitted activities
| Tier | Permitted business/investment activity | Key financial requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Platinum | Allowed (listed as “business/investment activities” and “career opportunities”) | US $1 million fixed deposit + property ≥ RM 2 million |
| Gold | Not allowed without a separate pass | – |
| Silver | Not allowed without a separate pass | US $150 000 fixed deposit + property ≥ RM 600 000 |
| SEZ/SFZ | Not allowed without a separate pass | – |
For the Gold, Silver and SEZ/SFZ tiers, participants must obtain “the appropriate pass” before working or conducting business, though the specific pass is not named in the reports.
Application statistics (2025)
- Total approved MM2H applications: 3,172
- Platinum: 46
- Silver: 2,650
- SEZ/SFZ: 322
- Gold: 154
These figures were released by MOTAC in March 2025.
Due‑diligence and security screening
- Every MM2H application undergoes security screening by the Royal Malaysian Police, including a letter of good conduct or police certificate for principal applicants and dependents aged 18 +.
- Deputy Home Minister Shamsul Anuar Nasarah confirmed that MM2H participants are cross‑screened with security and health agencies (Parliament, October 2025).
Implications
- The ministry’s directive does not introduce new legislation or penalties; it reinforces existing tier‑specific conditions already published on the MM2H website.
- Participants in the Gold, Silver and SEZ/SFZ tiers should ensure they obtain the required work or business pass before engaging in any commercial activity to avoid enforcement actions.
Source article: www.imidaily.com
