Why Are So Many Chinese Nationals Moving to Malaysia?
Source: The Vocket
Over the past three years, the number of Chinese nationals settling in Malaysia has almost doubled. This surge is largely due to the arrival of new students and investors, according to a report by Financial Times, cited by Malay Mail.
Ngeow Chow Bing, the director of the Institute of China Studies at Universiti Malaya, explained that the Chinese population in Malaysia has grown to between 150,000 and 200,000, up from about 82,000 in 2022.
The slow growth of China’s economy and stricter business regulations have pushed many Chinese nationals to look for new opportunities abroad, with Southeast Asia being a more affordable choice.
Malaysia, with its strong historical ties to China, has become a top destination for these migrants. The Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) program has also contributed to this increase, attracting not only wealthy individuals but a diverse range of people.
Tourism, Arts, and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Tiong King Sing mentioned that China has the highest number of active MM2H pass holders, totaling 24,765 people.
Additionally, Chinese investors have brought around 45,000 owners, managers, and employees from Chinese companies to Malaysia, according to a Chinese trade official.
There is also a significant number of Chinese students avoiding anti-China sentiments in Western countries like the US and Australia. Financial Times reported that Chinese nationals are now the largest group of foreign students and long-term residents in Malaysia.
The Ministry of Education noted that higher education institutions here welcomed over 44,000 Chinese students last year, a 35% increase from 2021. The number of Chinese students in international schools has also more than doubled from 2021 to 2023.
“A new wave of arrivals happens every week,” said a representative from the Chinese Entrepreneurs Association in Malaysia to Financial Times, highlighting that suppliers in the electronics and electric vehicle industries are coming here to avoid US tariffs and expand capacities outside China.
