Laid-back vibe, stunning beaches, rich cuisine and low cost of living lure more expat retirees to Malaysia
But ‘no place is perfect’ – the country’s policy flip-flops on its long-term residency scheme and profiteering relocation agents risk diluting its appeal
[KUALA LUMPUR] IT WAS “love at first sight” for Irishman Keith Judd when he visited Malaysia for the first time in 2009. He was working in Shanghai at that time.
In the whirlwind move that eventually ensued, he relocated to Penang Island a year later, under the country’s popular visa residency programme for foreigners called Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H).
The 62-year-old semi-retiree lives in a spacious beachfront condominium in Tanjung Bungah, a northern suburban coast of Penang. He begins his days with a leisurely stroll along the beach shoreline, enjoying easy access to a wide range of amenities and dining options.
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