With the latest changes to the laws governing foreign business activities on the island and the country, one thing I have noticed is that there has been an increase in so-called experts on Youtube and podcasts all proclaiming the end is near. It possibly is in many ways, and I will get to that soon, but I dare say the most startling thing is the amount of fear mongering going on, and online especially. As we’ve seen since Covid, fear mongering is a great way to get clicks online, but man, we really don’t need it.
I’m not sure, but possibly these experts have just arrived in the last shower, so to speak, and must think everything in Indonesia has suddenly turned Western overnight. Maybe all the foreigners are being unceremoniously kicked out, as some are saying, but I doubt it. Foreigners have brought a lot of good to this island over the past 50 or 60 years and I don’t believe that is lost on the grand majority of people here in Bali and Indonesia. Friendships and businesses have been born, built on trust and mutual respect and lasting decades and there is no reason that should change. It is not clear that the changes made to PMA companies is retrospective or not, but since the system has now gone online, a lot of smaller operators are definitely wondering what is going to happen next, especially as it appears their notarises also don’t know what is happening. I don’t think it means it’s all over, though.
Suddenly moving the goal posts is not ideal, but I imagine adjustments need to be made to keep the old boat heading in the right direction. There will be some issues that need to be discussed and worked out, but the most important thing is not to panic. Actually, one of the good things about the timing of this whole OSS online shift and the complications it is bringing is that it may just help to slow down the rampant development on this island. Let’s hope so. As I have said in this editorial before, there are already too many new settlers here, and not just foreign, but also from all parts of the archipelago. There’s not enough room for the island to take many more, especially here in the south.
Anyway, I am sure it will all work out sooner or later, as it normally does.
So, last week was a little more chilled for me than the week before. Of course, I didn’t have any energy left in the tank after that previous week’s mayhem. This past weekend was mostly spent down on Double Six beach watching the footy in my fave footy watching bar, The Deck and also managed to fit in a couple of games of tennis – gotta love that, two great pastimes on any weekend and always grateful. Sunday we were over at Blue Oyster with Befores spinning some tasty tunes and drinking cold beers. Let the good times roll!
Meanwhile, there is talk of bringing The Beat magazine back again. Maybe it was the social media post last week from my old buddy, one of my fave Balinese people, and the voice of the youth on this island, Jerink. That post brought back a lot of love and a lot of memories of the good old mag days. The good ol’ Bali days, indeed. It could be the time to do it again. What do you think?
Have a good weekend friends. Check the details here for what’s on over the next week.