Friendly people and climate a lure for expats

A BETTER balance between good infrastructural development and relatively low cost of living compared with neighbouring countries make Malaysia, and Penang in particular, a very attractive place for expatriates.

The Expat Group CEO J. Andrew Davison said other plus points included the widespread use of English, the tropical climate all year round, abundance of food and shopping establishments and adequate health care facilities.

Speaking during a talk entitled ‘Malaysia My 2nd Home: There’s No Place Like Home In Malaysia’, Davison said the vast majority of expatriates that they surveyed had rated Malaysia as one of the nicer places to live in.

“The main reasons cited were the friendliness of the people and its climate,” he added.

He also expressed his hope that the government would relax its policy of requiring applicants to have a monthly income the equivalent of RM10,000 or more, as the current rules make it quite difficult for retirees.

Besides the minimum income requirement, Malaysia My 2nd Home applicants also need to show proof of assets worth at least RM500,000 for those below 50, and at least RM350,000 for those above 50.

Canadian turns in winning performance for Penans

A Canadian marine biologist who was travelling in the heart of central Sarawak ended up taking on a Penan wrestling champion and winning him in a recent tournament.

Jason Baird, 34, took on Jonathan Tanyit, pinning the 2008 Penan champion wrestler in two out of three rounds after muscling and tossing him all over a football field.

British couple’s cool home gets even cooler

When it comes to exploring ways to generate renewable energy, a British couple will go to any lengths to achieve it.

After building an energy-saving and heat-resistant home in Ayer Keroh, Malacca, five years ago, Harry Boswell, 74, and Stephanie Bacon, 68, both participants of the Malaysia My Second Home programme, went on to improve the energy efficiency level even further.

From using only 19% of the electricity that an average Malaysian household utilises, the couple’s home, called Cooltek, now uses a mere 6%.

The extra saving is made possible through the use of photovoltaic panels that are mounted on the roof to collect solar energy which is then converted into electricity.

The couple has, since then, managed to slash their electricity bill from RM250 to about RM60 a month. This is despite their house having several air conditioning units which are on 24-hours-a-day.

ID cards for MM2H participants will be temporarily suspended

Please be informed that the issuance of ID cards for MM2H participants will be temporarily suspended until further notice, due to technical problems. We regret any inconvenience and are looking into having the system working again as soon as possible. The information will be duly updated on this page.Thank you.

MM2H Centre

3 July 2009

Todt to promote Malaysia’s beauty overseas

With a jetset lifestyle and an extensive network of influential friends around the globe, Datuk Seri Jean Todt has the best credentials to help him in his role as Tourism Malaysia’s ambassador.

Todt, who is fiance to Malaysian actress Datuk Michelle Yeoh and was formerly Formula 1 Ferrari executive director taps into his contacts overseas to promote Malaysia.

I would speak to influential people overseas about the country. Malaysians are low profile, so I’ll help them to speak about the beauty of Malaysia.

Todt said he would also conduct familiarisation trips for selected groups of people in the hospitality industry and media, and bring them to various interesting spots in Malaysia.

“I’m very busy but I am happy to give a little contribution. As much as I can come (over), I’ll come,” he replied when asked if he has a fixed programme as a Tourism Ambassador.

Todt, who had always considered Malaysia as his second home even before he received the approval letter for the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme two months ago, lists Sabah and Sarawak as his next destinations to visit.

Though based in Italy, Paris and Hong Kong, Todt has recently bought a condominium at One KL, located adjacent to the Petronas Twin Towers.

Asked what was the best thing he loved about Malaysia, he promptly replied: “Michelle!”, drawing laughter from those present.

Travel council soon to boost health tourism

A Malaysian Healthcare Travel Council will be set up to promote the healthcare tourism industry in the country.

Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the proposed council would look into exploring potential markets for the industry.

A memorandum on the plan would be submitted to the Cabinet within a month.

www.myhealthcare.gov.my

Home ownership set to cost more with stamp duty hike

Those buying and renovating properties will have to fork out much more following a steep rise in stamp duties.

From a nominal RM10, the stamp duty on “bonds, covenant, loan, services and equipment lease agreements of any kind whatsoever” has been raised to RM5 for every RM1,000, or part thereof – effectively 0.5% of the contract value.

This means a RM10mil construction contract will now attract an ad valorem duty of RM50,000.

Pakistani fined for abusing My-Second-Home pass

A Pakistani national who holds a visit pass under the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme was fined a total of RM60,800 by the Semenyih Sessions Court today for two immigration offences.

Rasheed Ahmeed Chungtai, 57, formerly a deputy chief accountant with British Petroleum in Pakistan, is the first person to be convicted for breaching the conditions of stay under the programme by running a restaurant.

For this offence contrary Regulation 11 of the Immigration Regulations 1963, he was fined RM800, in default five days in jail.

Judge Sabariah Othman also fined him RM60,000, in default six months in jail, after finding him guilty of employing four Pakistanis, one Indian and one Indonesian who did not have valid working permits to work at the restaurant.

This offence was under Section 55b(1) of the Immigration Act 1959/63.

Todt chosen as tourism envoy

Datuk Seri Jean Todt, the former executive director of Formula 1 Ferrari, has been chosen as Tourism Malaysia’s ambassador for a year.