Malaysia makes move to become preferred digital nomad hub in ASEAN

Source: MDEC. From left: Ma. Sivanesan Marimuthu, Deputy Secretary General, Ministry of Communications and Multimedia of Malaysia; Zairil Khir Johari, Penang State Executive Councillor for Infrastructure and Transport; YB Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima TPr Annuar Haji Musa; and Mahadhir Aziz, CEO of MDEC, officiating the launch of DE Rantau in Penang.

Malaysia has launched DE Rantau, a programme aimed at establishing Malaysia as the preferred digital nomad hub country to boost digital adoption and promote digital professional mobility and tourism across Malaysia.

DE Rantau is one of two Malaysia Digital Catalytic Programmes (PEMANGKIN) planned for 2022. It is designed to create substantial economic spillover through equitable access to digital tools, knowledge, and income opportunities. The programme is expected to inject a total of RM4.8 billion into the local economy by the year 2025. In the 1st phase, the initiative will include Penang, Langkawi, Kedah and Kuala Lumpur.

Malaysia Minister of Communications and Multimedia, YB Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima TPr Annuar Haji Musa said, “Aligned with Malaysia Digital (MD), the DE Rantau programme will help solidify Malaysia’s path to becoming the preferred digital nomad hub of the ASEAN region. Despite facing close competition with our neighbours, Malaysia has all the right ingredients to be the most attractive choice for digital nomads. We have a robust infrastructure, affordable cost of living, cultural diversity, a multilingual population, delicious cuisines, and many more offerings to strengthen our position.”

“While the digital nomad lifestyle is nothing new, it is the pandemic that accelerated the trend of more people choosing to embrace a location-independent, tech-enabled lifestyle, allowing them to work and live wherever their hearts desire.”

The programme is intended to benefit both local talents and foreign nomads. Apart from the introduction of the DE Rantau Nomad Pass, which will support the facilitation of foreign digital nomads’ stay in Malaysia for a period of 12 months, the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia Malaysia (K-KOMM) through Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) will create a ecosystem to support the digital nomad lifestyle.

MDEC will oversee the development of digital nomad hubs and comprehensive local ecosystems suitable for the digital nomad lifestyle. This will be done in collaboration with various industry players as well as the onboarding of digital nomads via outreach and awareness programmes and visa facilitation of DE Rantau Nomad Pass.

Details

Applications for DE Rantau Nomad Pass will open on 1 October 2022. Register.