Malaysian PR (Permit Masuk): Learning and Improving my Bahasa Melayu for PR Interviews

A basic proficiency in Bahasa Melayu (BM) is a requirement for all PR applicants. One of the conditions on the Immigration Permit Masuk checklist is the following:

The Immigration and Police interviews are both conducted in BM and, whilst being fluent is not expected, applicants should be able to understand the questions and respond in BM.

 
Whilst I had taken lessons in the past, I did not use BM often and I wasn't confident about speaking it in the PR interviews. However I put in a lot of preparation and passed both interviews.

This is how I learnt/improved my BM:
 
1) Took BM lessons

Many years ago I took BM lessons once a week for 3 months which taught me the basics and gave a good foundation for understanding the language. There are many classes available, such as:

• https://www.alslanguage.com.my/ 
• https://www.ymcakl.com/page/204/Language-Courses/ 
• https://expatsmalaysia.my/malay-language-course/

2) Used the Ling language learning app

I signed up for the Ling language app to practice speaking and listening to BM in everyday situations. It is one of the few apps offering BM: https://ling-app.com/ 

 
3) Revised the questions that might be asked

I wrote a list of all of the questions I saw other applicants had been asked and translated them and my answers into BM. I also learnt the national anthem (Negaraku) and national principles (Rukun Negara). See below for example interview questions
 
4) Practiced speaking BM with my spouse

We had day to day conversations and practiced the likely interview questions. 

Another option is to learn from YouTube language channels like these:

• Sierra Lisse: https://www.youtube.com/@sierralisse8897 
• Tina Amir: https://www.youtube.com/@TinaAmir 

Example Interview Questions:

I compiled a list of questions that other applicants had been asked at their interviews. I translated them into BM, prepared my own answers and practiced answering them:

 
Questions about the applicant and spouse:

• Can you speak Bahasa Melayu?
• What is your name?
• What country do you come from?
• What is your address/where do you stay?
• Do you own or rent the house?
• What is your age?
• What is your date of birth?
• Where were you born?
• What is your wife/husband’s date of birth?
• What is your religion?
• What date did you first come to Malaysia and what was your reason for visiting?
• What was the date of your first LTSVP?
• How long have you lived in Malaysia?
• How and when did you meet?
• How long you have been married?
• What was your marriage date?
• Do you have any children?
• What are your occupations?
• Which company do you/your spouse work for?
• What are your salaries?
• What is your wife/husband’s monthly salary?
• How many family members do you have?
• Do you have siblings?
• Do you have family in your home country?
• What are your family members occupations?
• Where does your family live?
• How many siblings does your wife/husband have?
• Where does your wife/husband’s family live?
• How many times do you go to your country in a year?
• What are your education qualifications?
• What are your wife/husband’s qualifications?
• Why do you want to apply for PR?
• What do you like about Malaysia?
• What do you like to do in your free time?
• What does your wife/husband like to do?
• What food do you like?
• What is your telephone number?
• Do you follow politics? This was asked at my Police interview. Foreigners are not allowed to get involved in Malaysian politics.
  

 
General knowledge questions about Malaysia:

• What is the National Flower?
• What colour is the National Flower?
• What is the name of the Malaysian flag?
• How many colours does the flag have and what are they?
• How many stripes and what other symbols are on the flag?
• When is Independence Day (Hari Merdeka)?
• When is Malaysia Day (Hari Malaysia)?
• How many states and federal territories are there?
• What are the names of the states and federal territories?
• Who is the King?
• Who is the Prime Minister?
• Who is the Deputy Prime Minister?
• Who are some other cabinet ministers?
• Who was the first Prime Minister?
• Can you name all the Prime Ministers?
• Can you recite the national principles (Rukun Negara)?
• Can you sing the national anthem (Negaraku)? Stand up to show respect.

Applicants may be asked to recite Rukun Negara and sing Negaraku during one or both interviews. Watching YouTube videos helped me to learn them:

Rukun Negara: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHEdSOkhI88 

Negaraku: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrNUQ0QZUdg

Malaysian PR (Permit Masuk): Police Interview for Spouse

Attend Police Interview 

(April 2023)

I had my interview at Ibu Pejabat Polis Kontingen in KL, the process may be different at other police stations. 

The immigration officer had said that the police would call us to arrange the interview between 6 months and 1 year after the immigration interview but we actually received a call after 5 months, and were asked if we could come to the police station the next day.

The police officer asked us to bring the originals and 2 copies of the following documents:

• Foreign spouse passport (copy bio page)
• Foreign spouse LTSVP 
• Foreign spouse birth certificate
• Local spouse IC (copy both sides)
• Local spouse birth certificate
• Marriage certificate
• Immigration confirmation letter (given to us after we submitted the application to Immigration)

We also brought the original documents submitted as part of our Immigration application (current & old passports/IC/marriage certificate/birth certificate/ sponsor’s payslips & employment letter/utility bill/bond receipt etc) in case we were asked to show them.

I also printed a list with the following information:

• Family members of both spouses with name, age, occupation & address
• Schools the foreign spouse has attended
• Foreign spouse's education qualifications

The police officer was pleased we had printed this list as it made her job a little easier!

Our interview was as at Ibu Pejabat Polis Kontingen (IPK), KL (near LaLaPort mall). We parked in the police compound and registered at the gate. We arrived very early ahead of our appointment, but there was no need to do so as we were asked to wait by the gate until we were collected by an officer at the appointed interview time. 

The interview was conducted in Bahasa Melayu (BM) by an officer from Special Branch (Cawangan Khas), and both my wife and I were interviewed together. The officers were professional, friendly, and made us feel at ease. Another couple had their PR interview with a different police officer in the same room, at the same time.

We were primarily asked about our relationship history, occupations and salaries, family members, education, and the reasons for my PR application. The police can also ask the same questions as Immigration, including requesting to recite the Rukun Negara and sing Negaraku.

See my post here on how I improved my BM for the PR interviews, and the questions that might be asked: 

https://spousevisamalaysia.blogspot.com/2023/04/malaysia-permanent-residence-pr-permit_20.html

The interview took 1½ hours, including the time the officer spent entering data into their system.

I was advised that my file will now be forwarded to Bukit Aman for background checks, a process that can take approximately 1 year. Following this, the file will be returned to Immigration for review before being sent to Putrajaya for a final decision.

The police officer said I should regularly follow up with Immigration to check the status of my file. Additionally, I was reminded to continue renewing my LTSVP.

I checked my status online at https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/eservices/myPermit?semakStatusPermit