Couldn't find an appropriate section for this, apologies if wrong place...
My Thai wife and I are becoming more and more dissatisfied with Thailand, and we are not even living there yet. I am looking to retire in a few years. We were considering going back to Spain where we lived briefly some years ago, but that is too far from her family now. So having been to Malaysia a few times, we are thinking about looking there. Has anyone also considered this or have any good info regarding buying and settling there. Thinking of an area near Penang or on mainland away from KL. Cheers GN
Moving to Malaysia?
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Green Nomad
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Re: Moving to Malaysia?
Have mulled it over several times over the years. I have too many ties here. If I was free and able to move, I'd plug for Langkawi. Even without 'retiring' you get a 3 month visa anyway. Then you can always take a ferry to the Thai side of the border for shopping or whatever. You'll get a further 3 months on your return.
I was speaking with someone a few years ago in Langkawi. They had been there for 14 years on 3 month visas.
Plus Langkawi is a duty free island so luxuries like alcohol, perfumes, tobacco and others are cheaper than on the mainland.
I was speaking with someone a few years ago in Langkawi. They had been there for 14 years on 3 month visas.
Plus Langkawi is a duty free island so luxuries like alcohol, perfumes, tobacco and others are cheaper than on the mainland.
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Green Nomad
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Re: Moving to Malaysia?
Thanks HHTel. Actually my idea may have been kyboshed already, I have just read foreigners are limited to purchasing property at no less than 250k US dollars, so unless I win on the premium bonds, its a non starter.
Re: Moving to Malaysia?
Yes, property for foreigners is quite expensive as are the requirements for long term visas - income, capital etc.
Rentals are comparative to Thailand. Comparing city accommodation to Bangkok, I think Malaysia wins. The cost of living is definitely cheaper.
Of course, you personally can't buy property in Thailand whatever the price. But in your case, your wife could purchase land and property.
It depends very much on how you see your lifestyle
Rentals are comparative to Thailand. Comparing city accommodation to Bangkok, I think Malaysia wins. The cost of living is definitely cheaper.
Of course, you personally can't buy property in Thailand whatever the price. But in your case, your wife could purchase land and property.
It depends very much on how you see your lifestyle
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Green Nomad
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Re: Moving to Malaysia?
Agree HHTel, it is a very attractive proposition to live there but too many hoops I think. We do have properties and land in Hua Hin, but I am looking at alternatives, if things get worse.
Re: Moving to Malaysia?
Just being nosey but what do you mean by ‘if things get worse’?Green Nomad wrote: ↑Tue Feb 21, 2023 4:27 pm Agree HHTel, it is a very attractive proposition to live there but too many hoops I think. We do have properties and land in Hua Hin, but I am looking at alternatives, if things get worse.
Chris.
Re: Moving to Malaysia?
I've also considered it, and several other countries in the region here, for similar reasons.
Just like the Thai junta, the Malaysian govt is also xenophobic and has clamped down on foreign property ownership in addition to pushing the country towards a more extreme Islamic state. These are the main things that would put me off Malaysia - and changing goalposts after you've settled there. However, if we did go it would be somewhere like Langkawi which is much more relaxed than the rest of the place.
Wherever we move to, buying property would not be a priority as we'd be happy to rent so that we can up sticks when things do get worse (the East/West divide appears to be deepening). Property is a massive anchor that is hard to liquidate in a hurry if you need to (as we have found out here).
I'm still investigating potential retirement countries as it is unlikely to be Thailand with the current state of things and direction it appears to be heading (militarization of society as it morphs into China).
Just like the Thai junta, the Malaysian govt is also xenophobic and has clamped down on foreign property ownership in addition to pushing the country towards a more extreme Islamic state. These are the main things that would put me off Malaysia - and changing goalposts after you've settled there. However, if we did go it would be somewhere like Langkawi which is much more relaxed than the rest of the place.
Wherever we move to, buying property would not be a priority as we'd be happy to rent so that we can up sticks when things do get worse (the East/West divide appears to be deepening). Property is a massive anchor that is hard to liquidate in a hurry if you need to (as we have found out here).
I'm still investigating potential retirement countries as it is unlikely to be Thailand with the current state of things and direction it appears to be heading (militarization of society as it morphs into China).
Who is the happier man, he who has braved the storm of life and lived or he who has stayed securely on shore and merely existed? - Hunter S Thompson
Re: Moving to Malaysia?
Hi
When We were looking there was a system called something like Malaysia my second home. It did offer several tax breaks on things like first car purchase etc.
When We were looking there was a system called something like Malaysia my second home. It did offer several tax breaks on things like first car purchase etc.
Re: Moving to Malaysia?
As a Singaporean on the wrong side of 60, and having been resident in Thailand for over 30 years, I'd like to offer my opinion as well re places to retire to.
Malaysia? Well, they do have a patronage system for Malays (bumiputras) and everyone else is placed second. The powers that be also give a lot of credence to the state rulers and that can (and will) supersede existing statutes. Your investment could be institutionalized anytime so many Singaporeans, even though they have the means and the money to do so, do not.
Singapore is the most modern as far as urban living goes, but you pay a high price for it. Great place for making a quick buck but definitely not someplace you'd retire to. A pack of Panadol in Thailand cost me 2 sgd; the exact same pack in Singapore costs 12 sgd. If you're willing to live in a country with a benign form of communism, then fine. Otherwise consider somewhere else.
Thailand? I'm still here and at my age don't have the energy to go through something like that. Besides, I'm quite comfortable here. The country has enough modern facilities that you'll be able to get what you want/need, though sometimes at a premium. Medical care is decent and affordable. As is accommodation and transportation. The only issue could be the language. As far as xenophobia goes, just leave the politics to the politicians, keep your head down, and you'll be okay.
My personal opinion.
BTW Australia and New Zealand can be options if you can afford the price of entry; close enough to Thailand by air. Many friends from SG are resident in both Western Australia and Melbourne and they're happy and settled there.
Malaysia? Well, they do have a patronage system for Malays (bumiputras) and everyone else is placed second. The powers that be also give a lot of credence to the state rulers and that can (and will) supersede existing statutes. Your investment could be institutionalized anytime so many Singaporeans, even though they have the means and the money to do so, do not.
Singapore is the most modern as far as urban living goes, but you pay a high price for it. Great place for making a quick buck but definitely not someplace you'd retire to. A pack of Panadol in Thailand cost me 2 sgd; the exact same pack in Singapore costs 12 sgd. If you're willing to live in a country with a benign form of communism, then fine. Otherwise consider somewhere else.
Thailand? I'm still here and at my age don't have the energy to go through something like that. Besides, I'm quite comfortable here. The country has enough modern facilities that you'll be able to get what you want/need, though sometimes at a premium. Medical care is decent and affordable. As is accommodation and transportation. The only issue could be the language. As far as xenophobia goes, just leave the politics to the politicians, keep your head down, and you'll be okay.
My personal opinion.
BTW Australia and New Zealand can be options if you can afford the price of entry; close enough to Thailand by air. Many friends from SG are resident in both Western Australia and Melbourne and they're happy and settled there.
วินเชนท์
Re: Moving to Malaysia?
That scheme still exists but there are limitations:
Requirements For the MM2H Programme
Minimum liquid assets of RM1,500,000.
Minimum offshore monthly income of RM40,000.
A fixed deposit account with a Malaysian bank which contains at least RM1,000,000.
For retirees, there is a requirement to show proof of receiving pension from government RM10,000 per month.
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Green Nomad
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Re: Moving to Malaysia?
Thanks all for your inputs. As for the questions about how Thailand is getting worse?, I think in reality the whole world is having problems, isn't it?. So my thought's are just a early panic attack with retirement looming. I know enough about Thailand to plan ahead and deal with things as they happen to be honest. The daily challenges could be replicated in Malaysia. So I will chalk the idea off. I could, in reply to 2/cb's question, explain how I am seeing things getting worse in Thailand, but that would be too risky on here. I am not green to the country, 25 years experience. GN