Sarawak Second Home Program Hits 265 Approvals with Record Deposit Growth

Sarawak’s Malaysia My Second Home program approved 265 applications between January and mid-May 2025, generating RM65.3 million (US$15.4 million) in fixed deposits.

The figures were presented by Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Minister Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah at the state legislative assembly, confirming the program’s strongest early-year performance since its launch in 2007.

At the current pace, approvals could exceed 700 by the end of the year, marking a projected 26% increase over the 560 approvals recorded in 2024. That year also saw RM111.6 million in deposits, indicating that 2025 could end with a higher economic impact if the trend holds.

Since the ministerial takeover in 2020, the program has accelerated rapidly. In contrast to the 1,240 approvals during the 13 years under Immigration Department control, the ministry approved 1,901 applications in just over five years, thanks to process changes and the formation of the SMM2H Panel Coordination Committee.

Leading Investor Countries in SMM2H Program

Chinese citizens continue to make up the largest share of applicants with 513 total approvals since 2007. They are followed by:

• United Kingdom – 384 approvals
• Taiwan – 277
• Hong Kong – 267
• United States – 262

These five countries form the program’s core applicant base, with demand largely driven by long-stay preferences and lifestyle relocation factors.

To date, 3,141 total applications have been approved under SMM2H, including those from the early Immigration Department years. Since 2020, program governance under Abdul Karim’s ministry has seen not just higher volumes, but consistent year-on-year growth.

For comparison, the federal MM2H program recorded 782 approvals in 2024, generating RM455.8 million (US$102 million) through its tiered Silver, Gold, and Platinum visa options. While the federal program generates larger deposit volumes, Sarawak’s regional scheme remains more consistent in volume and year-to-year growth.

Based on the first five months of this year alone, 2025 could become SMM2H’s most economically impactful year yet, with deposits expected to exceed last year’s total by at least 40%.