KUALA LUMPUR: The Tourism, Arts, and Culture Ministry (Motac) must immediately address matters concerning the non-renewal licences for agents under the Sarawak-Malaysia My Second Home (S-MM2H) programme.

Sarawak's Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said administrative restrictions or bureaucratic red tape could tarnish the country's image, particularly the tourism industry in the eyes of potential S-MM2H applicants.

"We must realise that these applicants are not only considering Malaysia for the second home programme.

"Countries across Southeast Asia, such as Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam are also striving to attract individuals from other nations to treat their countries as their second home," he was quoted as saying by the Borneo Post after officiating the Ramah Tamah Aidilfitri event at Asajaya Sports Complex, today.

Yesterday, Motac announced that it is currently vetting and regulating the agents of the MM2H programme meticulously to benefit all parties involved.

Its minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sid said all agents need to re-register their business through the channels provided according to the conditions stipulated.

Tiong also said Motac had received many complaints from applicants who participated in the MM2H programme.

Meanwhile, Abdul Karim hoped that the federal government exempt Sarawak from the recent policy change regarding the renewal of agents' licenses or to promptly address the nationwide issue of non-license renewal.

This, he said, was as several affected agents from Sarawak had already accepted deposits from potential applicants for the S-MM2H programme.

However, their company licences could not be renewed before the applications were processed.

He also said that over 2,000 SS-M2H applications have been approved, with 400 pending applications awaiting processing.

"This is why I have spoken to the minister (Tiong) to look into the matter immediately, we cannot just keep them (applicants) hanging since there are many of them applying."

At the same time, Abdul Karim, who chaired the monthly meeting alongside the state immigration department in screening the applicants of the S-MM2H programme, said only genuine applicants who consider Sarawak as their second home will be approved.

"You must see that those (applicants) who choose to come to Sarawak are not individuals with problematic intentions. We do not want those who seek to engage in money laundering or vices.

"We seek genuine applications from those who consider Malaysia or Sarawak as their second home."

https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2024/04/1040465/motac-urged-address-s-mm2h-agent-licences-renewal-issue-quickly