Malaysia is a beautiful place, and we are fortunate to live in a country where there are no natural disasters, the economy is stable, and there is plenty of good food. Why else would foreigners be attracted to invest their businesses, buy homes, and even retire in Malaysia, right? Well, there’s more to it than that. According to Yong Ruobing, managing director of MCC Overseas, a subsidiary of China Metallurgical Group Corporation, there are seven main factors which attract Chinese nationals to do business, invest, live, study, or work in Malaysia.

#1 Natural Environment
Unlike big cities like Beijing which suffer from serious air pollution, the air in Malaysia is fresh, (usually) without haze, and the weather is generally fair with equal amounts of sunshine and rain. There are also no major natural disasters. Plus it is geographically near to Singapore, making it easy to travel between two countries for business or leisure. (Once the KL-Singapore high speed rail is completed, it will be even more convenient!)

#2 Low Prices
Properties in Malaysia are considered inexpensive for Chinese investors, with plenty of choices for affluent individuals, from luxurious penthouses in the heart of Kuala Lumpur to idyllic mansions by the sea. Playing golf is good and affordable here, not to mention lots of cheap and delicious food readily available any time, anywhere. The cost of living is low, while standard of living is not too shabby either.

#3 Similarities in Language and Culture
Malaysia is one of the few countries in South East Asia with a large ethnic Chinese population, a well-developed Chinese language education system and impeccably preserved Chinese culture. Many local Chinese are able to read, write and speak Chinese, making it easy to communicate and do business with companies from China, Taiwan and Hong Kong. In addition, the Chinese community in Malaysia are still very much similar with overseas Chinese in terms of food, culture, beliefs and religion, thus providing a sense of familiarity to foreigners from Chinese-speaking countries.

#4 Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) Programme
The Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme is targeted at foreign retirees. It is regarded as one of the most attractive long term stay visa programmes in Asia, as it offers plenty of benefits and incentives for foreigners to stay and retire in Malaysia. For foreigners, the prices of properties in Malaysia are among the lowest in the region, making it a good second home or retirement destination.

#5 Quality Education
Education fees are affordable in Malaysia, and students can further their studies in other countries after completing their studies here. A major attraction of higher education in Malaysia is its growing partnerships with universities in other countries. Many foreign universities, especially Australian and British, have branch campuses in Malaysia, which allow students to study locally and obtain a foreign degree. Considering the favourable exchange rate for ringgit compared to USD or sterling pound, it’s no wonder many Chinese students choose to come here for their tertiary education.

#6 Excellent Healthcare
Malaysia boasts one of the best healthcare services in the world. According to International Living magazine’s 2017 Global Retirement Index, Malaysia is one of the top four countries in the world for healthcare. Some of the best-trained doctors in Asia are based here, and many of them are able to speak English as well as other languages, including Chinese.

#7 Freehold Properties
Properties in Beijing are not freehold, with short leases of only 40 years, 50 years and 70 years. Foreigners can buy freehold and 99-year leasehold properties in Malaysia. Besides that, property prices in Malaysia are only 20% – 30% of the property prices in Singapore.