Back in time, you didn't need WP to get NON-B if you had a company. Then they changed. 5 years no need for WP if you invest, then it was 3 years and now, I don't know.
Hmmmm, i'll be on my border run on the 10th July, so now not sure if I should go to Penang instead and renew my Visa 4 months premature - ohh no, that's not possible either ;-)
What's happen last year, I went to Penang to renew my NON-B in August but forgot my WP book.
Jim suggested I have it sent to me, fly back and get it or apply for a single NON-B but at a silly expensive price. So Thursday night I look in my Passport and see, my NON-B only expires on Friday. So came back on the same visa and got 3 months, then went back to Penang in November to get my new visa. That's why I'm now 6 months out of sync with my work permit and visa.
Now I do have my own company too but work for someone else, so not sure if that could make a difference.