Over the past few years, Bali has emerged as a magnet for global investors, particularly from Western countries, drawn by the island’s exotic villa lifestyle and the promise of high returns from short-term rental businesses. However, behind this attractive investment landscape, significant business risks remain—often underestimated or poorly understood by those involved especially to the local Balinese.
Most recently, a Balinese local entrepreneur, Made Murna Wijaya, owner and Director of PT Lingkar Jaya Bali, has raised concerns over alleged non-payment for design planning and construction work on several large-scale property development projects in Bali developed by Lux Bali Property (PT Bali Real Estate Investments). Made Murna Wijaya explained that one of the projects that PT Lingkar Jaya Bali had designed, planned, and constructed for Lux Bali Property is the Lux Project Bali Seminyak although it is actually located on Jalan Mertanadi, Kerobokan, Kuta District, Bali.
Lux Bali Property (PT Bali Real Estate Investments) is owned and managed by an Australian citizen named Jamie McIntyre. According to Made Murna Wijaya, the professional relationship between him and Jamie McIntyre began with an initial meeting in December 2023. The initial meeting was followed by a formal work instruction starting in around January 2024 for the design, planning and construction of the Lux Project Bali Seminyak
During the design, planning and construction of the Lux Project Bali Seminyak, Made Murna Wijaya explained that Jamie McIntyre from Lux Bali Property had constantly made late payments to the invoices from PT Lingkar Jaya Bali. Even if Jamie McIntyre from Lux Bali Property eventually made payment to some of the invoices, such payments were mostly small fraction payments to the amount of the invoices with the promise from Jamie McIntyre that the full payment of the invoices would be paid after PT Lingkar Jaya Bali completed additional works for Lux Project Bali Seminyak.
This pattern continues for several times and building up cost to be suffered by PT Lingkar Jaya Bali, Made Murna Wijaya explained. However, when PT Lingkar Jaya Bali demanded for full payment of the invoices to Lux Bali Property, Made Murna Wijaya stated that Jamie McIntyre denied the invoices amount and even appointed another construction company to continue the works without settling the outstanding invoices of PT Lingkar Jaya Bali. By August 2025, PT Lingkar Jaya Bali was forced to halt all work due to build up cost due to the absence of payments for its services.
“Our scope of work covered the entire process—from design planning to full construction execution. However, until today, the payments owed to us have not been fulfilled,” said Made Murna Wijaya.
At the initial stage, the project was planned to include 15 villa units across Lot 1 and Lot 2, with a total budget estimated in the tens of billions of rupiah. During execution, the project involved more than 100 local workers, divided into multiple professional teams, as well as involving various of local Balinese suppliers.
As the collaboration progressed, the contract expanded to cover a total of 70 villa units. Made Murna Wijaya stated that the average construction progress exceeded 65 percent, with several units reportedly reaching 100 percent completion.
Despite the substantial progress, Made Murna Wijaya said the financial impact on his company has been severe. He estimates losses of approximately in billions of Rupiah from architectural planning, design work, and construction-related losses. These losses correspond to outstanding invoices that remain unpaid as of the cessation of work. He also added that Lux Bali Property non-payment directly impacted the lives of many local suppliers and workers involved in the project.
Efforts to resolve the matter amicably were made. According to Made Murna Wijaya, several on-site mediation meetings were held directly with Jamie McIntyre. However, these discussions failed to produce a constructive outcome.
“We attempted to resolve this issue through direct mediation in good faith. When no agreement could be reached, we had no choice but to pursue legal action, covering both design and construction claims,” he explained.
Eventually, Made Murna Wijaya on 6 November 2025 submitted a civil lawsuit against Jamie McIntyre at Pengadilan Negeri Denpasar (Denpasar District Court) under the case number 1536/Pdt.G/2025/PN Dps. The case is currently registered and awaiting further proceedings before the Denpasar District Court. Made Murna Wijaya hopes that his case could be immediately resolved in accordance to the law and fairness. He also believes that his case should serve as an important lesson for local entrepreneurs, particularly when entering partnerships and/or cooperation with foreign investors.
“It is crucial to understand the background of potential clients and ensure they genuinely intend to invest, rather than engage in activities that may harm other parties,” he said.
To minimize the risk of property investment disputes, Made Murna Wijaya emphasized the importance of thorough due diligence. This includes verifying physical project locations, assessing property conditions, reviewing the credibility and track record of the counterpart, confirming company addresses, and ensuring full legal compliance.
He also shared a message for fellow Balinese and Indonesian entrepreneurs:
“Do business with people who help you grow, not those who bring you down and take advantage of others for their own benefit. What my team and I experienced has been a hard lesson. I hope other business owners will be cautious and avoid entering business relationships that could put them at similar risk.”