TMR

by SHAUQI WAHAB

A total of 744 participants under the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme have purchased residential properties between 2023 and Dec 31, 2025, while another 2,637 participants are still in the process of finalising purchases, including signing sale agreements and identifying suitable homes.

The figures reflect growing property interest among long-term foreign residents under the revamped MM2H framework.

Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing (picture) clarified that the MM2H programme does not grant citizenship, permanent residency or MyPR status.

“But instead, it operates as a long-term social visit pass with multiple entry visas, allowing foreigners to stay in Malaysia between five and 20 years,” he said in Dewan Rakyat today.

The programme is structured into four main categories, namely Platinum (20 years), Gold (15 years), Silver (five years) and Special Economic Zone (10 years), with five-year renewable endorsements.

In terms of property purchases by nationality, Chinese nationals emerged as the largest group with 304 homes bought, followed by Taiwanese (91 units) and Singapore (63 units), making up the top three source countries under the new MM2H policy.

Tiong added that the programme is designed purely as a long-term residency initiative to attract foreign participants without altering citizenship pathways.

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KUALA LUMPUR — The federal government and the Sarawak state government have, in principle, agreed on a value of RM1.8 billion for the state’s acquisition of Bintulu Port, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Transport Minister Anthony Loke (picture) said the federal government and the Sarawak state government are now at the final stage of the process to hand over the port to the state.

He said a technical committee jointly chaired by both parties is fine-tuning the legal aspects to ensure that all obligations are fulfilled as provided under the Bintulu Port Authority (Dissolution) Act 2023 [Act 59], before the effective date of the Act is set.

“This step is important to enable the Sarawak state government to officially take over the regulation and governance of Bintulu Port.

“The federal government has also determined the payment value as well as the payment method to be adopted by the Sarawak state government for the purpose of acquiring the port,” he said during the question-and-answer session. — BERNAMA

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LABUAN — The Labuan Immigration Department detained 10 Chinese nationals during an enforcement operation on several residential premises here yesterday.

‘Ops Sapu’, involving 18 enforcement officers and led by Fatrick James, was conducted at four housing areas across the duty-free island from around midnight to 1.30 am, following public tip-offs and intelligence gathered by the department.

Its director, Raymond Entalai, said that  20 Chinese nationals — 15 men and five women — were inspected during the operation, with 10 of them detained under Section 6(1)(c) of the Immigration Act 1959/63 (Act 155) for not having valid travel documents or passes.

“During the inspection, several individuals tried to flee through the rear entrance of their premises, but all suspects were apprehended without any untoward incident,” he told Bernama when contacted today.

Raymond said four summonses were also issued to witnesses to assist in the investigation, adding that the 10 detainees were taken to the Labuan police lock-up.

He added that the department would continue to carry out enforcement operations to detect, arrest, prosecute and deport foreign nationals who violate Malaysian laws under the Immigration Act 1959/63, the Passport Act 1966 and the Immigration Regulations 1963.

He also reminded the public and employers not to harbour or hire illegal immigrants, and urged those with information on undocumented migrants or immigration-related offences to contact the department. — BERNAMA

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ISKANDAR PUTERI — The 1.1-kilometre (km) Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) Tebrau Shuttle route has the potential to be turned into a safer motorcycle or pedestrian lane if the service is terminated once the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link begins operating next year.

Johor Works, Transport, Infrastructure and Communications Committee chairman Mohamad Fazli Mohamad Salleh (picture) said the state government accepts proposals from the public and causeway users who want to see the route continue to be optimised.

“There are some who suggested that perhaps certain tourism elements be preserved because there is sentimental value in terms of the history of the infrastructure built there,” he told Bernama.

He said these are among the proposals being mulled by the state government, although nothing has been submitted to the Federal government or the Ministry of Transport, so far.

He added that any decision regarding terminating the Tebrau Shuttle service would depend on the Federal government under the Transport Ministry, as it involves a cross-border service. 

“But this will depend on the ministry’s latest decision. It’s just that at the state level, should the system or service be discontinued, we have several proposals that are being considered,” he said.

However, he said that based on the preliminary agreement, the Tebrau Shuttle service will be terminated once the RTS Link is operational.

The Tebrau Shuttle service, which has been operating since July 1, 2015, connects JB Central and the Woodlands Train Checkpoint (WTCP) in just a five-minute journey across the Malaysia-Singapore border.

The service, priced at RM5 one-way from JB Sentral to Woodlands and SGD5 for the opposite direction, can ferry up to 8,635 passengers daily with a frequency of 31 trips in both directions. — BERNAMA

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KUALA LUMPUR — The presence of oil palm plantations in Malaysia does not threaten orangutan populations, as the species has shown a clear ability to adapt and survive within plantation landscapes, according to Malaysian Palm Oil Green Conservation Foundation (MPOGCF) general manager Hairulazim Mahmud.

He said claims that oil palm cultivation destroys orangutan habitats have long been amplified by international non-governmental organisations (NGOs) through anti-palm oil campaigns in Europe, negatively affecting the local and global palm oil industry.

However, Hairulazim said scientific studies paint a different picture, showing that orangutans in Malaysia not only use plantations as movement corridors but also build nests and forage for food in these areas.

“Beyond local studies, research by international NGOs such as HUTAN shows that orangutans in Sabah have begun assimilating into oil palm landscapes,” he told Bernama, citing drone and helicopter surveys that detected orangutan nests woven from palm fronds within plantations.

He said that similar patterns are seen with elephants, which often enter plantations during replanting seasons as palm shoots are a favoured food source and the scent of felled palms can be detected by elephants from distances of up to 18 kilometres.

Such encounters are usually managed with monitoring by plantation operators, he said, while conflicts are addressed through safe and ethical relocation methods guided by authorities, including MPOGCF.

The foundation also works with the London-based Earthworm Foundation to train smallholders in Johor to use drones to track elephant movements and mitigate conflicts.

Hairulazim said these examples demonstrate that biodiversity conservation and agricultural activities can coexist if properly managed.

He highlighted several MPOGCF conservation initiatives, including the Lower Kawag Orangutan Habitat Restoration Project in Sabah, which involves restoring 2,500 hectares of forest, planting native tree species and engaging local communities to improve livelihoods.

Other efforts include projects under the Central Forest Spine initiative in Kelantan to reconnect fragmented forests in Peninsular Malaysia, as well as wildlife corridors, satellite collaring of elephants, early warning systems for smallholders and biodiversity-friendly plantation practices.

While acknowledging that oil palm expansion in the 1980s involved deforestation, Hairulazim said such practices are no longer permitted, with Malaysia maintaining more than 50 per cent forest cover.

The industry is now governed by over 60 laws and regulations, including mandatory compliance with the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil (MSPO) certification.

He said MSPO certification is required for all smallholders, estates and mills exporting palm oil, ensuring production does not involve deforestation or threaten wildlife.

“To obtain this certificate, farmers must comply with strict conditions, including no more deforestation for oil palm plantations and preserving High Conservation Value (HCV) Areas so that biodiversity continues to be preserved,” he said, noting that MSPO is recognised by the European Union (EU) as it is in line with the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).

Hairulazim said that the palm oil industry contributes more than three per cent to Malaysia’s gross domestic product and generates over RM100 billion in annual exports, underscoring its commitment to sustainability.

MPOGCF also participates in more than 20 local and international exhibitions and conferences, including the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Congress and UN climate conferences, to share research findings and engage global stakeholders. 

“We are currently applying for membership in the IUCN because it is starting to care about palm oil, and slowly it is becoming clear that palm oil is no longer an enemy of the environment. They have also issued guidelines on how the palm oil industry can be biodiversity-friendly. When we become members, we can share our research stories at the IUCN congress,” he said.

He added that MPOGCF also plans to recognise oil palm plantations that demonstrate best practices in biodiversity management, conservation and sustainable operations.

— BERNAMA

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