PETALING JAYA: Japanese YouTuber couple iChang and Jimmy will be returning to Malaysia as their DE Rantau Nomad Pass has been approved by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC).
In a heartfelt video uploaded on their YouTube channel iChang RM, the couple thanked every Malaysian who reached out to the authorities and even offered them jobs so that the couple could stay in Malaysia.
They are awaiting approval from the Immigration Department, which will take 14 working days.
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The pass is given to "digital nomads" to boost digital adoption and promote digital professional mobility and tourism across Malaysia in MDEC's quest to make the country the preferred digital nomad hub in Asean.
"Now we're staying at a tiny apartment in Hong Kong before going back to Malaysia... and I quit my job.
"When MDEC sent the message saying that my visa application has been approved, when I got that message I quit my job," Jimmy said, adding that he did not hesitate to leave his job of 11 years after receiving so much genkidama (love and support) from Malaysians.
On Jan 10, the couple uploaded a tearful and touching video to say they had no choice but to leave Malaysia as their tourist visas had reached their limit.
Since then, the video has garnered more than 900,000 views, with many fans leaving encouraging comments for the couple and hoping that they will return to Malaysia.
The video also received the attention of Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil who tweeted: "Actually, their application was approved a few days ago, but they still need to procedurally leave the country and come back in."
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The duo, whose real names are Ai Nishida (iChang) and Yusuke Nishida (Jimmy), are big fans of Malaysian food and document their foodie exploits via their YouTube channel, which has over 342,000 subscribers.
From devouring durian and asam pedas to ordering nasi kandar in Malay and replicating Malaysian YouTuber Sugu Pavithra’s chicken curry and Che Nom’s tepung pelita, the couple have won many hearts for celebrating and showcasing the best of Malaysian food and culture through their popular channel.
On its website, MDEC says "digital nomads can travel and work remotely across various locations in Malaysia, while having access to stable broadband connectivity and various other facilities and services that support the nomadic lifestyles".
