Born in 1948 in Corsham, UK, to an English mother and a Polish father, Paul Tyminski has spent most of his life moving across continents. A seasoned airline pilot who worked for numerous carriers over the years, Paul has travelled the globe both professionally and for adventure.
Now retired and living in Kuala Lumpur under the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme, he enjoys a slower pace of life filled with cooking, travelling and the occasional Korean television series. We sat down with Paul, who resides in Bukit Tunku, to talk about his journey back to Malaysia.
What initially brought you to Malaysia? Had you visited the country before moving here?
I actually first came to Malaysia as a teenager. I lived in London during my primary school years, but when I was 14 my father was reassigned to a new Royal Air Force station in Butterworth in April 1962.
I went to school in Penang. Later we moved again, to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. In 2006, a friend of mine in his 60s told me he was planning to sail around the world. I wished him good luck, but then he said, ‘I want you to come with me.’ And I thought – why not? So we sailed around the world for five incredible years.
I had already bought an apartment in Kuala Lumpur and eventually settled here permanently in 2011. Retirement did not last long, however – after a while I got a little bored and ended up working again. I joined AirAsia as a flight simulator instructor in 2013 and stayed for about four years. Over the years I’ve also worked in Hong Kong and Dubai, and my final role was training pilots for VietJet Air.
What do you like about living here?
The people are friendly and easy-going, and the climate suits me perfectly. After living in warmer parts of the world for so long, I’ve become very accustomed to it. I love Malaysian food, from hawker stalls to neighbourhood restaurants.
What do you wish was better about living here?
Some regulations affecting foreigners could be more welcoming. I’m not sure why the Malaysian government sometimes introduces rules that don’t always feel welcoming to foreigners. For example, there are extra taxes on international schools and medical services. But it has never taken away my joy of living here.
We’d love to hear more about your MM2H experience. When did you apply, and how did you find the process?
I first applied in 2010, but that permit was cancelled because I started working full-time with AirAsia. But then I retired and I decided to return to the programme. I applied again in 2018 and it was actually fairly easy and quick. I did have to go to immigration in Putrajaya once to queue, but I believe that’s no longer necessary. Overall the process was pretty smooth and straightforward.” My current MM2H pass will need renewal in May 2028.
Is Malaysia truly your second home, or your first home these days?
Malaysia is definitely my first home now. My second home… perhaps Vietnam. I still have family ties to the UK, where my daughters live, but returning permanently is not something I am considering. They would love me to move back, but it’s just too cold! I went there for Christmas and I was freezing. I’ve been away from the UK since 2006 and I’m simply not used to that kind of weather anymore.
After a lifetime spent flying across the world, Paul Tyminski seems perfectly content having landed in Kuala Lumpur – where the food is good, the weather is warm, and home finally feels close.