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Make Malaysia Your Second Home
You’re tired of extreme weathers, be it snow or desert heat. You yearn to remove the mundane from your life and immerse yourself in world cultures. You’re badly affected by the current economic crisis and seek a brighter future for your children. If this is you, read on.
Malaysia My Second Home program may just be the answer you’ve been looking for. Malaysia has much to offer, not least is the lower cost of living (compared to most developed countries) and ample opportunities for you to thrive. Yes, relocation is a serious decision but it is one which is best made when you’re well informed. Let’s begin.
What is this program about?
Malaysia My Second Home program is open to citizens of countries recognized by Malaysia regardless of race, religion, age or gender. Applicants are allowed to bring their spouse, children (below age of 21) and parents above the age of 60 as dependants.
The program provides the expatriate with a 10-year social visit pass which allows multiple-entry into the country, and is renewable.
Why Malaysia?
First of all, where is Malaysia? This thriving country is located in the heart of South East Asia, between Singapore and Thailand. Malaysia has a population of 26 million people comprising of Malay, Chinese and Indian races. This blend of cultures makes Malaysia a unique nation of Asian heritage.
Malaysia enjoys a tropical climate where temperatures average at 30 degree Celsius/86 degree Fahrenheit throughout the year. You need not fear natural disasters here; however, carrying an umbrella during the rainfall season would be wise. Of course, there’s the infamous humidity which takes a while to get use to.
Malaysia has a relatively high quality of life at one of the lowest costs of living in the region. There is much to do and see here, from the natural beauty to the urban sprawls. This country has seen rapid economic growth and has dedicated the next decades to fulfill a vision of development. The friendly community, economic stability and accessibility make Malaysia an attractive place to plant roots.
What’s in it for me?
It’s never easy to start a life in a foreign land, but through the Malaysia My Second Home program, the Malaysian government has made the transition as comfortable as possible.
Successful applicants to this program will enjoy several key benefits, namely:
• House purchase
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You are allowed to purchase residential properties priced at a minimum
of RM250,000 per unit (RM300,000 for certain areas in the state of
Sarawak). Before doing this, you’d need to decide where to settle down.
Currently, the most popular destinations are Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
Kuala Lumpur’s attraction needs no further explanation as it is the
nation’s capital and most developed city. Penang has attracted a fair
crowd of expatriates for its blend of city development and island
nature. Under this program, you can purchase two properties, so you
need not confine your decision to one state/location.
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• Car
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You can opt to import your car into Malaysia as you will be exempted
from paying the import duty, excise duty and sales tax. Alternatively,
you can purchase a locally assembled car free of all taxes. Whether you
decide to do the former or latter, you can be sure to enjoy lower
petrol prices here than most countries.
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• Part-time employment
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If you’re 50 years and above, you can apply for part-time employment.
Application takes about 7 days and is subject to the policies of the
Malaysian Immigration Department.
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• Tax
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Unfortunately, moving to Malaysia isn’t far enough to evade paying
taxes. You would still be subject to the local policies, systems and
regulations of taxes of Malaysia. The good news is that Malaysia has
one of the lowest tax rates in the region. For those retiring to
Malaysia, the better news is that tax exemption is given to pension
remitted into Malaysia.
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• Education
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Your children’s education can continue from where they left off.
Malaysia has an established education system. While local schools are
cheap, the curricula are taught in local languages (Malay, Chinese or
Tamil). Alternatively, there are more than 30 international schools to
choose from with a range of curricula including British, American,
Australian, French, German, Japanese and Indonesian. Enrolling in
international schools comes at a cost but the standards and facilities
are above par.
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• Business and investment
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Under this program, you are allowed to set up your own business subject
to Malaysia’s Companies’ Act 1965. You are only eligible to register a
limited company.
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• Domestic help
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You will be allowed to apply for a domestic helper subject to the prevailing guidelines of Malaysia’s Immigration Department.
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Above and beyond these incentives, you will be able to live a comfortable life in Malaysia at your own pace and on your own terms.
Moving forward
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Relocating to Malaysia may not be an easy decision but it is a move
forward. Malaysia is a land of diverse history, culture and adventure.
It is also a welcoming nation. There is a growing community of
expatriates in Malaysia, so much so that there are various expat
associations which have been established for decades, aimed to support
the expatriate community here.
To date, over 12,000 expatriates have joined the Malaysia My Second
Home program so settling in is just a matter of acceptance. Today, we
enjoy global mobility and are faced with opportunities that can change
our lives for the better. So why not take advantage of this opportunity
now and make Malaysia your second home. This just might be the change
you’ve been yearning for.
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Click here for more information on the Malaysia My Second Home program and application.
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