KUCHING: The number of approvals for the Sarawak-Malaysia My Second Home (SMM2H) programme has seen a significant increase since the Sarawak Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts (MTCP) took over its administration.

Its Minister, Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the responsibility, previously held by the Sarawak Immigration Department, has seen a rise in approvals from 1,240 to 1,901 to date.

He noted that the increase in approved applications has brought a significant economic impact particularly to Sarawak.

“In 2024, a total of 560 applications were approved, with applicants’ Fixed Deposits amounting to RM111.6 million.

“From January to mid-May this year, 265 applications were approved, with applicants’ Fixed Deposits totalling RM65.3 million,” he said during his ministerial winding-up session at the 19th Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) Sitting on Tuesday.

Further elaborating, Dato Sri Abdul Karim revealed that the majority of programme participants came from China (513), the United Kingdom (384), Taiwan (277), Hong Kong (267), and the United States (262).

He explained that this achievement was the result of MTCP’s establishment of the SMM2H Panel Coordination Committee and the issuance of local SMM2H Tourism Business Licences under the Tourism Industry Act 1992 (Act 482), which was granted by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) on 30 October 2024.

“Effective from 1 January 2025, we introduced a licensing framework for SMM2H agents, under which the SMM2H Panel Bank was formed to offer specialised services, including facilitating the opening of Fixed Deposit accounts and attractive banking packages for applicants,” he added. -UKASnews