It has been a challenging first five months of the year, during which most of our efforts have been focused on stabilising things and getting them back on an even keel.
La Pari-Pari experienced a change in management at the beginning of this year. While it was a trying experience for me, I am glad to say that I believe things have worked out for the better. I am now the sole driver of the business, backed by a new partner, my brother who is assisting me in the background with financial and administrative advisory matters.
The last few months have been mainly spent getting administrative matters in order. Trademarking of our logo is now almost complete and our financial house is now in order.
Some of you may recall that we began the process of submitting our papers to the Langkawi town council some eight months ago, for the purpose of obtaining a development order that will enable us to construct the resort. In March, the town council came back to us requesting instead that we submit papers seeking permission to convert our piece of land from its current agricultural status to a commercial one. While this was something we had on the cards for a later stage, the town council has apparently changed the rules and is asking all developers to submit conversion requests before they release any development orders.
Now, technically, this sort of control mechanism is a good thing. Many developers in Langkawi are well-known not to adhere to the conversion requirement and develop land arbitrarily. So, we did the necessary and complied.
A week ago, we received a letter saying that our conversion request had been temporarily rejected as we had not obtained our development order!
Upon further investigation we have now been told the letter was a 'clerical error'.
The level of incompetence we have encountered in acquiring basic services in Langkawi and in relation to both private and public sector providers there has been appalling. Of course, this presents opportunities for enterprising folk - so if any of you out there are reading this and want to move there - they need all sorts of efficient people - accountants, lawyers, contractors, etc.
What concerns me is how the inefficiencies we have witnessed will impact the further development of the island's tourism sector and indeed its economy as a whole. Without reliable service providers and a more efficient government, the island cannot prosper.
In other news, one of loyal supporters, Aida has now left Langkawi in pursuit of a new career in Sabah. While we will miss her presence on the island, I am truly happy for her. So if any of you are thinking of a spot to go to in East Malaysia, drop by Mantanani Island, off the coast of Kota Belud.
Thank you for continuing to support us. Remotely or not, your presence among us and positive thoughts have been very helpful on days when we just want to throw in the towel.
We will get there eventually. It make take some time, but we will get there :-)
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