KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme agents must comply with the laws of countries where they operate when promoting the programme and recruiting participants overseas, says Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing.
The Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister said holding a licence to operate in Malaysia did not automatically mean MM2H agents had fulfilled the regulatory requirements of other countries.
“Agents who have obtained MM2H licences in Malaysia should not assume that they have fulfilled all regulatory requirements. When promoting MM2H and recruiting clients in other countries, they must also understand local laws and cooperate with local authorities,” he said in a Facebook post on August 27.
Tiong said the matter was among issues discussed during his recent meeting with the Malaysian Association in the Republic of Korea during his visit to the country.
The meeting was also attended by the association’s president Dr Aaron Kim Hong-Seok, secretary-general Kim Jun-Hyung and several other representatives.
According to Tiong, association representatives said some MM2H agents in Malaysia might not fully understand South Korea’s regulatory system and were dealing directly with local individuals.
This had resulted in multiple parties claiming that they could handle MM2H applications, potentially causing confusion among prospective applicants.
Tiong said he would remind all MM2H agent companies to comply with applicable rules and regulations upon his return to Malaysia.
“We cannot simply look at the number of applicants brought in. What matters most is protecting applicants and ensuring that the market develops in a transparent, legal and orderly manner,” he said.
He also stressed the importance of establishing a clearer cooperation mechanism between Malaysian MM2H agents and local industry partners in key overseas markets.
Such cooperation, he said, could reduce ambiguity, prevent fraud and misunderstandings, and strengthen prospective applicants’ confidence in the programme.
Meanwhile, Tiong said the South Korean market had strong potential for MM2H, particularly among retirees looking to make Malaysia their second home during the winter months.
He urged MM2H agents to intensify promotional efforts in South Korea and work with local industry partners to ensure more effective promotion of the programme.
