KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 17 (Bernama) -- Chinese nationals comprised the most number of 13,977 people from 107 countries signed up for the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme since it was introduced seven years ago.

"The highest number of participants are from China followed by Bangladesh, United Kingdom, Singapore, Taiwan, India, Iran and Indonesia," Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen said in reply to a question by Senator Sharifah Azizah Datuk Syed Zain in Dewan Negara here today.

Ng said MM2H was recognised by International Leaving magazine in its Annual Global Retirement Index 2009 Survey where Malaysia was placed first country of choice in Asia and 16th worldwide by senior citizens.

From 2004 until Nov this year, 811 houses costing RM846.79 million were bought by participants with most choosing to stay in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang, Johor and Perak.

She told Senator Tan Sri Jins Shamsudin that under the programme, foreigners could only buy properties costing RM500,000 and above.

"Participants can only buy properties and houses costing RM500,000 and above. They can't buy properties costing lower than that," she said.