Bali Governor Candidates Give Updates On Controversial Presidential Statements 

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Both candidates for the Bali governorship have issued statements regarding controversial comments made by the new President of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto, this past weekend.

During his first official visit to Bali as President, Subianto said that he would build North Bali International Airport and that the project would see Bali become the new Singapore or Hong Kong of Southeast Asia. 

The election for the next Governor of Bali will take place on the 27th of November. The two candidates are Made Muliawan Arya, known locally by the nickname De Gajah, and Wayan Koster, who has already served a term as Bali Governor.

Arya’s running mate is Putu Agus Suradnyana, and Koster has teamed up with the current Regent of Badung, I Nyoman Giri Prasta. 

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Following statements made by President Subianto over the weekend, top academics, tourism leaders, and political figures in Bali have shared their concerns that the development of Bali as the new Singapore or Hong Kong of Southeast Asia could have disastrous consequences for Balinese culture, cultural heritage, and the landscape. 

Arya has since spoken to the media to say that Subianto’s comments have been taken out of context. The President was talking about making North Bali International Airport as big and busy as Hong Kong and Singapore Airport, not making all of Bali like these city-states.

However, many feel that President Subianto’s Subianto lacked clarity.

Speaking from Denpasar on Sunday, the President simply stated, “North Bali Airport, as I have conveyed that I am committed, I want to build North Bali International Airport.”

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He stated clearly, “We will make Bali make the new Singapore and Hong Kong, where we will be the center of this region.”

Arya told reporters, “It turns out that [the response] was made up by irresponsible people. They said that Bali would be made into New Hong Kong and New Singapore. That’s a big mistake. Because he spoke in the context of the airport, in the context of North Bali Airport.”

Arya also suggested that Bali could learn from Singapore and Hong Kong in terms of city planning,’ neatness and cleanliness’ and that the plans for Bali’s future or North Bali International Airport would not negatively impact Balinese cultural values. 

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Candidate Wayan Koster has also spoken to the media regarding the President’s comments and has praised him for his ‘wise’ vision for the future of Bali.

However, he did concede that the infrastructure and required accessibility needed to build the North Bali International Airport is nowhere near ready. 

Koster told reporters, “That is why we are currently preparing various infrastructures, which we started when we became the Governor of Bali in the first period. We still ask that this be continued at this time.”

He added, “After everything is ready, the construction of the airport in Buleleng will inevitably, sooner or later, be realized. We wake up gradually. Can’t build the airport right away. It must be conceptualized and planned so that it does not waste and does not become a momentary political sale.”

Koster confirmed that during his term in office as Governor of Bali between the 2018-2023 period, he had prepared for the construction of an airport in Buleleng Regency in northwest Bali.

The first issue he encountered was the Regional Regulation of Bali Province Number 2 of 2023 regarding the Bali Provincial Spatial Plan 2023-2043.

Koster explained, “The Regional Regulation has accommodated the plan for the construction of a new airport in Buleleng. So we have prepared the construction of this airport from the beginning. We have seen this Bali far ahead, 100 years ahead.”

He added that the project has been factored into the grand vision for Bali’s future, noting, “In the Regional Regulation, it has accommodated the plan for the construction of a new airport in Buleleng.”

“So we have prepared the construction of this airport from the beginning. We have seen this Bali far ahead, 100 years ahead.”

He concluded, “The point is that we are in line with President Prabowo Subianto to build an airport in Buleleng. It’s just gradual; we have prepared the regulations. For the sake of Bali, we are ready to implement it.”