Police move in to end beach resort stand-off

LANGKAWI - Things are beginning to go back to normal at the Beach Garden Resort here after police finally stepped in and ordered a group of people who had laid "siege" to the resort to disperse or face the consequences.

Police arrived on Monday night and ordered the group to disperse besides directing them to remove the plastic tape they had used to seal off the resort in Pantai Chenang.

They also detained two men who caused a commotion when they tried to prevent workers from reconnecting water supply to the resort.

However, the duo were released the next day after their statements were recorded.

Resort general manager Wolfgang Sauer yesterday expressed relief and thanked the New Straits Times for highlighting the problems faced by the resort as it helped in getting police to put an end to the chaos.

"The police finally put an end to the stand-off on Monday night, five days after the group disrupted our operations. We now have a peace treaty and the problem should not recur.

"The situation has finally been brought under control by the police, and water supply has been restored. Our guests and those of the island in general will be able to enjoy their holidays without fear of any further disturbance."

Sauer said the group had also assured the management that they would clear piles of red earth that had been dumped at the resort's entry and exit points since last Wednesday.

It was reported in the NST that a group of local residents, identified as members and sympathisers of seven families who co-own the plot of land where the resort stands, had resorted to disrupting operations at the resort by unloading truckloads of red earth at the entry and exit points.

They also sealed off the resort by putting plastic tape around the perimeter before harassing and threatening guests, workers, suppliers and neighbouring resorts who tried to help out by giving water to the resort.

Guests staying at the resort were in fear for their safety and the problem was compounded when local authorities here failed to act decisively to put an end to the group's blatant disregard for the law.

The incident was sparked off when members of the family, which owned the land, got into a dispute over whether the lease agreement with the resort, which has been operating on the land for the past 20 years, should be extended for another 12 years.

Family members who disagreed with the lease agreement decided to take matters into their own hands even though the resort management had successfully obtained an interim injunction from the High Court to prevent the disputing parties from entering the resort or disrupting its operations.

NST ..

TB : Need to settle the dispute. Its quite a shame to outside world.

Langkawi at losing end of family dispute

LANGKAWI, Malaysia - A beach resort here is seeking help from the Tourism Ministry and former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in dealing with a vigilante-like group who have sealed off land in a beachside spot.

The group is involved in a family dispute over the land on which the resort stands.

Despite the resort management having a court order prohibiting the disputing parties from entering the resort or disrupting its operations, it would appear that family members have taken the law into their hands.

Beach Garden Resort general manager Wolfgang Sauer claimed that several foreign guests staying at the resort in Pantai Chenang were intimidated and threatened with physical violence by the group.

He said he had contacted several embassies to notify them of the situation.

"I had to alert them as we can no longer guarantee the safety of our foreign guests.

"The vigilantes have grown more brazen by trespassing on our property and threatening our staff and guests.

"I just don't know what else to do. We have lodged four police reports."

He claimed the police and other authorities here had washed their hands of the matter, saying it was a private issue.

Sauer said Langkawi's reputation as a tourist destination had been hurt by alerts guests had posted on the intimidation and inconvenience in various travel blogs and websites, including tripadvisor.blogspot.

"After sealing off our entry and exit points, cutting off our water supply and threatening foreign tourists and our workers, they are now targeting all those who are helping us.

"They have issued death threats to our workers and the management of a neighbouring resort who are helping us out."

He said three Tourism Ministry officials visited the resort yesterday to see things for themselves so that they could brief Tourism Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ng Yen Yen.

"I hope the ministry is able to intervene and help resolve this standoff as we are fully booked for Christmas and up to April.

"The other hotels and resorts are also fully booked so we cannot place them anywhere else. If the situation is not resolved, then Langkawi's reputation is going to take a big hit and it may be an age before tourists have the faith to come here."

-- New Straits Times

AL :

Its quite sad to see this things happening. The authorities must get involved in this issue to prevent damaged reputation.