193 N. Koreans choose Malaysia as second home since 2014: Zahid

TAWAU: A total of 193 North Koreans have been allowed to stay in Malaysia under the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme since 2014, according to Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The Deputy Prime Minister said the figure was part of the total 2,453 citizens from the republic who have stayed in the country between then and this year based on Immigration Dept statistics.
He added that of that total, only 315 North Korea nationals remain in the country at the present moment, majority of whom are MM2H participants, students and those working here.
"Out of the 2,453 citizens, 801 were here under the temporary work visit permits. Another 193 are those under the MM2H programme, 11 are students and 180 are miners in Sarawak.
"However, our record shows that only 315 remain here in Malaysia, while the rest have returned to their homeland," he told reporters after launching the Jalinan Kasih carnival, here, today.
According to the MM2H website, applicants under 50 years of age who wish to be qualified for the programme are required to show liquid assets above RM500,000 and a monthly income of over RM10,000.
Applicants over 50, meanwhile, have to show assets over RM350,000 and monthly income of RM10,000, while those who have retired are required to show proof of receiving pension from government of RM10,000 per month.
While claiming that the movements of the 315 individuals would not be monitored specifically, Ahmad Zahid assured that methods exist in overseeing the situation in case they were involved in any negative activity.
Ahmad Zahid said that there was not a need for a third party or country to intervene in finding a solution to the diplomatic row between the two nations.
He said he was confident that what was being done by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak would ensure the matter would be resolved diplomatically and would not be prolonged.
When contacted for further elaboration on MM2H, Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz said he was unable to comment at the present moment, and that further information on the programme would be disclosed soon.
"I can't tell you off hand. I will check and give details later," he told theSun.
MM2H, which is an international residency scheme, has approved over 30,000 applications since its establishment in 2002.
Approval for the applicants are also subjected to security vetting clearance conducted by the police.
This requires applicants to present a police clearance certificate or letter of good conduct from their home country to show that they do not have a criminal record.
As of November 2016, Chinese nationals made up the largest number under the MM2H programme with 7,976. They were followed by Japan (4,127), Bangladesh (3,399), and United Kingdom (2,361).
South Korea had 1,174 participants under the programme.