Sarawak’s tourism, creative industry and performing arts minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah revealed this in the state legislative assembly recently.

He said 560 applications were approved last year and another 265 as of mid-May this year, Bernama reported.

According to Karim, the economic benefit from these applicants saw funds amounting to RM176.9 million entering the state, in terms of fixed deposits.

After having captured the interest of Chinese nationals and Europeans over the period, Karim said the state is now keen on targeting applicants from Japan.

He said this was because there has been an increase in the number of tourists coming to Sarawak from Japan.

“It’s up to them (the Japanese) to see what Sarawak has to offer, but from what I can observe, especially from applicants from Europe or China, they see Sarawak as a safe place with good medical facilities,” he was quoted as saying at an event in Kuching today.

He also cited the education sector as a factor that attracts foreigners to join the SMM2H programme, as their children can study at several international schools in Sarawak.