Major obstacles stand in the way of Ting Pek's Langkawi ambitions

LANGKAWI: The plans by former timber tycoon Tan Sri Ting Pek Khiing to develop a RM30 billion Langkawi New City project on the west coast of the island resort has received s sharp rebuke from civil society organisations here.
Malaysian Nature Society vice president Eric R. Sinnaya said that Ting may mean well about trying to grow the island resort's economy, but for tourism to flourish here, the authorities have to instead protect the ecology.
Conservation and preservation are part and parcel of the new age of tourism, where tourists are equally concerned about the fragile environment, he added.
Sinnaya was responding to the reports that Ting plans to involve a group of international investors to construct about 30,000 luxury condominiums, commercial zones, yacht berthing facilities, cruise stopovers for ocean liners and other social amenities.
For Ting, this master city plan is expected to take 10 years to complete.
But Sinnaya said that most segments of the travel trade community here were doubtful as previously, the island resort had recorded rapid development but although tourism flourished, the environment suffered.
Earlier, Ting clarified that he had submitted plans to build such a project for the past several years but was unaware that the application needed to be accompanied by a deposit.
He said that he would submit a new proposal on the project to the new state government in Kedah as soon as possible.
Ting was considered one of the biggest construction players in the country during the 1980s to 1990s, because of his ability to build projects in record time.
He built the now defunct Delima Resort off the Langkawi International Airport in less than 60 days so the island resort could play host to the inaugural Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (Lima) event.