The Home Affairs Ministry has approved 15 new Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) participants to stay in Malaysia for 10 years.

The government initiative enables foreigners who meet specific requirements to stay in Malaysia for an extended amount of time on a 10-year renewable Social Visit Pass with Multiple Entry Visa.

It is open to all Malaysian diplomatic partners’ foreign nationals, regardless of race, creed, gender, or age.

The programme has also established a service centre dubbed the Executive Room at the Immigration Department in Putrajaya, where participants can register and receive programme information.

Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin said the Executive Room demonstrates the government’s dedication and seriousness to the MM2H programme.

“We want to demonstrate to the participants that this programme cares for the people in it, he said at the launch of the Executive Room recently.

He added that the programme was previously maintained by the Tourism, Arts, and Culture Ministry before its acquisition by the Home Affairs Ministry, and that it will be gradually improved.

Hamzah also responded to claims that the programme is unpopular among potential participants.

“There were many rumours that this programme would not be well received by foreigners, but since online applications opened in November last year, which is within just two months, we have received 111 new registrations indicating interests in this programme.

“And today, 15 of these 111 applications have been approved. We will complete the registration procedure for the remaining 96 as quickly as possible,” he said.

Hamzah cited the Silver Haired programme, a forerunner to the MM2H which began in 1996 and demonstrated approximately a thousand active candidates per year.

“Therefore, there is no reason to exaggerate this issue as if there were numerous losses.

“Based on this, if we pass the 111 applications, they would bring in at least a million ringgit each,” he said, adding that the government will be able to raise RM1 billion annually if an average 1,000 participants are successful.

Hamzah also explained the recent rise in the minimum criterion for participation is to ensure that quality people are engaged in the programme.

“High-quality individuals are those who are able to live and spend their money however they want.

“The vast majority of the new participants genuinely want and deserve to be a part of our programme,” he concluded.