KUCHING: Former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim urged Sarawak to reconsider the proposed RM2 million deposit requirement for West Malaysian businessmen wishing to migrate to the state.
He expressed concern that the high deposit would discourage ‘good quality Malaysians’ from relocating to Sarawak.
“It would be in Sarawak’s interest to attract as many migrants as possible. The current population is too low to drive Sarawak into overdrive.
“Quality people can bring value to Sarawak’s economy, such as good teachers, builders, tailors, and restaurateurs, but they may not have RM2 million,” he said in his Facebook post yesterday (May 10).
Therefore, Zaid urged the Sarawak Cabinet to reassess the amount needed to qualify for permanent residency.
“Good-quality Malaysians will come in droves because they know Sarawak is the Malaysia they wish they had but is not to be.
“Don’t break their heart. Let them come. Through hard work, they will give back to Sarawak more than two million, which they may not be able to find now.
“But Sarawak’s future depends not just on money but people. Singapore, Finland, Dubai, and New York were all built by quality people,” he stressed.
He highlighted Sarawak’s vast landmass, abundant natural resources, unique autonomy within Malaysia, and the caliber of its leaders as significant advantages.
“At the domestic level, Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg himself helms the state, ably assisted by his deputy Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas. And there is the irreplaceable Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri in Putrajaya,” he added.
