MALAYSIA’s long-term residency programme Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) is experiencing a renewed influx of applicants, with Chinese nationals leading the charge as the largest group seeking a better quality of life.
According to the latest data, between September 2024 and January 2025, Chinese nationals made up 53% of the 2,195 MM2H applicants – the highest proportion among all nationalities.
This trend cements a decade-long pattern, with mainland Chinese applicants consistently dominating the programme since 2013.
The MM2H scheme, introduced in 2002, was initially designed to attract well-off retirees and has since contributed RM11.89bil to the Malaysian economy between 2002 and 2019. However, the programme was temporarily suspended in 2020 and again in 2023 for a comprehensive policy review.
The relaunch has seen new requirements, including a minimum fixed deposit of US$150,000 and a property purchase of at least RM600,000, which must be held for 10 years.
Notably, the requirement to prove a fixed monthly income has been removed, making the scheme more accessible to those with substantial savings.
As of December 2024, there are 57,686 MM2H participants globally, with Chinese nationals accounting for 26,162, or 45%, of the total – the largest share by country. Other key participant groups include South Koreans, Japanese, Bangladeshis, Taiwanese and Hong Kongers.
Observers attribute the rising interest from Chinese nationals to several factors, including the desire to escape the “neijuan” phenomenon – a highly competitive and stressful lifestyle in China.
Malaysia’s relaxed environment, affordable property market, and quality international schooling options for children make it an attractive destination for families. Retirement opportunities and the chance to invest in property also appeal to wealthy Chinese seeking a more balanced life abroad.
Penang, a popular MM2H destination, is seeing a surge in property demand from Greater China clients, who now make up 80% of buyers from the region. Property investments linked to the MM2H scheme between September 2024 and January 2025 reached RM681mil , while fixed deposits from applicants totalled US$152.8mil (RM722mil), further boosting Malaysia’s economy.
With a growing number of Chinese nationals seeking a new home in Malaysia, the MM2H scheme is reinforcing the country’s position as a top destination for those in search of a better quality of life in Southeast Asia. — March 1, 2025
