KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Economic Advisory Council (SEAC) deeply regrets the uncalled for and disruptive suspension of MM2H agents without notice or reason on the eve of the launching of Sabah MM2H by Sabah’s Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment.
In a statement by SEAC chairman Tan Sri David Chu, they have supported and worked very closely with Sabah’s Minister of Tourism, Culture and Environment Datuk Christina Liew since Sabah MM2H has been conceived.
After months of detail preparations and hard work by her and staff of her Ministry, it is grossly disappointing that the Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture (MOTAC) has deemed it fit to suspend all the MM2H agents nation-wide without notice.
MOTAC’s sudden action has ignored the efforts and loss of money suffered by the MM2H agents. Needless to say, many foreigners who are preparing to apply or intend to apply for the Sabah MM2H programme are gravely disappointed, he stated adding that MOTAC’s sudden suspension of the agents has given a negative image for Malaysia.
“SEAC is fully supportive of the Sabah Government’s policy to only appoint Sabahan
companies as agents for Sabah MM2H. This is in line the Sabahans First Policy of the Sabah Government. MOTAC should recognise that the appointment of agents is an administrative/implementation procedure, not a national policy matter.”
He stated that MOTAC should note that the Sabah MM2H is an initiative of the Sabah Government and has the approval of the Sabah State Cabinet. The Sabah Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Environment should be the proper authority and jurisdiction over the
appointment of Sabah MM2H agents.
“Last and most important, MOTAC’s sudden decision to suspend all the MM2H agents will deprive Sabah of many economic benefits as Sabah MM2H will generate substantial economic spin-offs in financial deposits, tourism, real estate development and related activities.”-pr/BNN
