Foreign participants of the Sarawak-Malaysia My Second Home (S-MM2H) programme can now work in the state, as per the recent approval of the state cabinet’s refinements on application procedures. The new regulations are set to take effect from Tuesday (Aug 1), providing foreign participants with the opportunity to work while residing in Sarawak.
Sarawak’s Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Minister, Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, announced the cabinet’s decision during a press conference held on Tuesday. The refinements to the application procedures were approved during a meeting held last Thursday (July 27).
Before this change, participants of the S-MM2H programme were not permitted to work in Sarawak. However, with the latest approval, successful applicants will now have the authorization to engage in certain employment opportunities within the state.
According to Abdul Karim, the jobs allowed for S-MM2H participants include part-time lecturing or being a minority partner in companies established in Sarawak. To be eligible for part-time work, the sector must demonstrate a shortage of available Sarawakian workers, and approval from the Immigration and Labour Monitoring Unit (ILMU) in the Sarawak Premier Department is mandatory.
Applications for the S-MM2H programme and the request for work permits must be made through the Ministry of Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts. Subsequently, the applications will be forwarded to the State Secretary’s office, which has a committee responsible for approving the applications.
In addition to the revised work permit regulations, the S-MM2H programme is now open to individuals below the age of 40 who have children under 21 studying in Sarawak or undergoing long-term medical treatment within the state.
Since its inception in 2007, the S-MM2H programme has approved 2,198 participants, attracting individuals from various countries. The top 10 countries with the highest number of participants include the UK, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Singapore, the US, South Korea, Indonesia, Australia, and Japan. These participants have chosen Sarawak as their second home, benefiting from the state’s attractive offerings and opportunities.
