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Kota Kinabalu: A circular by Motac (Federal Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture) that no one is allowed to process new applications for the Sabah-MM2H programme until further notice has affected plans by the State Government to launch its own.

According to Motac, the suspension applies nationwide, including Sarawak.

Sabah was due to launch the Sabah-Malaysia My Second Home (Sabah-MM2H) programme on June 1, said State Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Christina Liew.

She said her Ministry had written to Motac asking it to explain as well as review the decision to suspend the operations of licensed agents, especially the Sabah agents, some of whom still hold valid licences approved and issued by Motac.

“Failing which, my Ministry will appoint and authorise state representatives to process the applications of potential applicants for the Sabah-MM2H programme.”

She said the State Government through her Ministry had engaged with the relevant departments and agencies such as Immigration, Police and Home Affairs Office on coordinating all the workflow to make sure applications for participation in the Sabah-MM2H programme can be processed as smoothly as possible.

“We were ready to roll out. Many were actually looking forward to submitting their applications. In fact, we finalised the criteria for the programme three months ago.

“We were surprised when Motac suspended the operations of all licensed agents in processing new applications with immediate effect.

“This unfavourable move has adversely affected our progress and intended launch,” said Liew, unhappy about the unexpected turn of events. 

Motac issued the circular dated May 27 to all licensed agents handling the MM2H applications, including those in Sabah and Sarawak, to stop their operations.