Bali’s governor-elect Wayan Koster and his deputy governor, Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati, (Koster-Ace) have released a statement saying they will stop the Benoa Bay reclamation plan.
This was conveyed to reporters at the Transition House on Jalan Moh. Yamin, Denpasar on Friday in the presence of the Chairman of the Bali DPRD Nyoman Adi Wiryatama, Badung Regent Nyoman Giri Prasta, Deputy Mayor of Denpasar Jaya Negara and other PDIP politicians.
The statement was read by Wayan Koster and explained in connection with the governor-elect’s Vision – Mission, ‘Nangun Sat Kerthi Loka Bali’ which means maintaining the sanctity and harmony of Bali and its contents; the nature of Bali, the Balinese people and Balinese culture to realize the life of a prosperous and happy Bali Krama, Sakala-Niskala.
“The nature of Bali, the Balinese and the Balinese culture are the noble inheritance of our Balinese ancestors, so the development of Bali in the future must be planned, directed and arranged according to the values ​of the Balinese philosophy,” explained the former member of the Indonesian House of Representatives for three terms.
With the Vision – Mission, development in Bali in the future must be imbued and oriented towards sustainable and environmentally friendly development efforts that must be carried out with the full commitment of all parties.
“Bali development must be comprehensively designed in the ‘one’ area. “One island, one pattern and one governance,” he explained.
Not only that. Koster also ensured that he was totally free to lead and build Bali into the future. Then Koster conveyed his first gesture was to ensure that the reclamation of the Benoa Bay area would not go ahead.
“The reclamation plan in Benoa Bay will not be implemented,” said Koster.
“I won’t be thinking about it any longer, only refusing it.  This is our official attitude,” he continued.
In addition, Koster also requested that the provincial government of Bali, the Badung regency government, and the Denpasar city council, third parties and anyone else involved should stop or not continue the process in any form. Including feasibility studies, environmental impact analysis and other activities relating to the Benoa Bay reclamation plan.
“We will conserve the Benoa Bay area,” he explained.
If there is illegal activity in the mangrove area there will be quick and strict action. In addition, Koster appealed to Benoa Bay pro and contra community groups to no longer conduct demonstrations.
“To ensure and guarantee the implementation of this statement it will become official policy of the Governor of Bali after being sworn in on September 17, 2018,” he explained.
When pressed, Koster said the policy would be sufficient to stop the reclamation, even without the annulment of the Presidential Regulation No. 51/2014.
According to the Governor-elect, the presidential regulation did not only affect the reclamation of Benoa Bay, but also several areas in Indonesia. He said a gubernatorial regulation was ample to put a halt to the planned reclamation.
“I think it does not take a president to stop the reclamation. A governor is enough,” he said.
After the Governor-elect had finished, some media present asked the Chairman of the Bali DPRD Nyoman Adi Wiryatama for the attitude of the Bali DPRD. Including asking questions about who would be harmed by this decision.
Adi Wiryatama went straight to the podium saying, “So yes, some say entrepreneurs will be harmed, but it doesn’t seem like that. The most disadvantaged will be the ‘demo’ business, because with this decision there will be no more demonstrations,” said the Chairman of the Bali DPRD.
He also said that with this policy, everything is over. There is no more debate over the reclamation of Benoa Bay. “We did not want to join in refusing the plan before, so that we were not seen fighting the platform. But with this decision, we ensure that our attitude, as we always told the demos, was rejection from the start,” he said.
