Entry Two

So this is what it feels like to have your own start-up company. The dreams, visions as well as the uncertainties all mixed into a great cornucopia called doing business. If our school results are anything to go by, we certainly have the greatest chance of success because we are the classic businessmen (at least, two of us). I hate physics, additional mathematics and chemistry (failure rate exceeding success rate) while the other two guys of the triumvirate aren't as keen as I am to make a fool of myself.

Nevertheless, I can only say it is an honour nearly unparalleled in my universe that Tommy Ooi (founding member, marketing man) would choose me, eccentric and extreme atheist, Ju Ping (Jon Stewart wannabe) as his business partner. Together with the very gifted Chong Yang (computer wizard, highest possible level in geek speak), complete a troika of one of possibly seven business partnerships in the world where a smooth-talking egocentric but generous and charitable realtor contacts the only known atheist in Chung Ling who grows bonsais as a hobby and wishes to retire poor who in turn calls up quite possibly the most gifted computer wizard Chung Ling has seen in five generations with a reputation (not without good reason) for creating the most elegant programs and websites anyone has ever seen or expected from a high school graduate.

For those who just wish to ignore the human aspect of the company and get to the fuddle duddle business we do, start reading from paragraph four.

First and foremost, we are an advertising company for property dealers. Our online presence is at Sautern.com.my which we hope to develop into the number one property kiosk in Malaysia. In other words, we hope Sautern becomes synonymous with buying your dream home.

Our secondary business is selling a property auctioning program that also doubles as a simplistic property database manager.

Our tertiary business is website publishing and software customising.

However, to reach even the first goal, we had to register our company first. The reason is any company wishing to use the .com.my suffix has to be a Malaysian registered company first. This is where I take you on a trip across the Penang Bridge to Butterworth with fellow triumvir Tommy. And please, I beg of you, try to use your imagination to visualise the trip instead of requesting a video or podcast of my journey.

The day started with me waiting outside the Hotel Equatorial. I was feeling especially tired... after watching the Torino Winter Games till early morning the night before, I guess anyone would.

Tommy picked me up and we made our way to the jetty, where we took a free trip across the channel on a ferry. Yes, you read that right! A free trip from Penang Island to Butterworth. It turns out they only charge for the trip from Butterworth to Penang.

Using a few clues given to us by our respective acquaintances, namely: we should make our way to the Registrar of Business; it is near the EPF building; and we should see it immediately after the ferry docks; we made our way to the largest building in sight after leaving the Butterworth side dock.

As soon as we got there, imagine, if you can, the extreme shock we felt when we saw the Registrar of Business everyone was referring to was a conservatively dressed lady sitting behind a creaky old wooden desk that was plastered with words like “Company Registration” and the like right on the sidewalk of the building.

It turns out they were referring to agents (which were very abundant in Butterworth).

For a starting fee of only RM 130.00, she promised to help register our company. Naturally, we declined her generous offer, and asked for directions to the Registrar of Business. Luckily for us, she wasn’t one of those vindictive types who turn into Mr. Hyde when they lose potential clients and gave us directions to the building. So, thank you lady on the sidewalk..

Throughout Butterworth, we observed that the road was quite unforgiving. One wrong turn, and you would find yourself in Kuala Lumpur, or Kulim. To prevent this potentially disastrous event, we asked for directions from everyone we met.

They include: Guy behind the counter in Shell; Girl behind counter in McDonalds; and my driving instructor.

Say what? Your driving instructor!

Yup, somehow, my diving instructor who lecture me on the Undang-undang, was on holiday on that very day, had returned home, and was on the sidewalk of a shoplot was available for inquiries regarding the roads of Butterworth while I was there to register a business and had took a wrong turn.

Please, can anyone calculate the possibility of that happening on that very day?

Anyway, we got the directions and made our way to the EPF building; where we saw to our amusement, special agents, peppering the pavements around the said building. Yup, we saw Fox Mulder and Dana Scully.

Ignoring them altogether, we made our way into the building where we took several detours before finding the right level – Level 6.

There, we met a vivacious young woman who helped us through the registration process. As if this weren’t strange enough, she turned out to be an agent. Whether it was our boyish innocence or our charm (I highly doubt it), she guided us through the entire process.

Here’s the précis of the process:

1. Choose a company name;
2. After approval, fill in the A Form;
3. There, we swore (after paying RM 10.00);
4. After that, we had lunch (beef turned out to be cheaper than chicken);
5. Then we passed in the form for approval and paid RM 70.00;
6. We then received a receipt and promptly went home.

Hopefully, we will become the proud owners of Sautern Enterprise sometime this week.

For now,

Live Long & Prosper,

May the Force be with You.