Wayan Koster

I Wayan Koster (; born 20 October 1962) is an Indonesian politician and economist who is the 8th governor of Bali, serving in 2018–2023 and since February 2025. He was a member of the House of Representatives (DPR) representing the province of Bali from 2004 to 2018 from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) Faction.

Before becoming a politician, he was involved in education, Koster studied at Bandung Institute of Technology and Jakarta State University before becoming a lecturer and eventually joining Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle. In the 2014 Indonesian legislative election, Koster was the holder of the most votes in the Bali province electoral with 260,342 of votes, a three-term parliamentarian representing his home province.

Koster was once a researcher at the Research and Development Agency of the Ministry of Education and Culture (1988–1994) and also a lecturer at several state and private universities (1994–2004). He became a figure in the Hindu community by serving as Deputy Secretary General of the Indonesian Hindu Youth Association (IHYA/PERADAH Indonesia) and Secretary General of the Tax Base Prajaniti Hindu Indonesia.

Education and early career

I Wayan Koster was born in the village of Sembiran in Tejakula district of the Buleleng Regency of Bali on 20 October 1962. He completed his first twelve years of education there from 1968, graduating high school in 1980. Afterward, he moved to Bandung to study at the Bandung Institute of Technology, from where he graduated in 1987 with a bachelor's degree in mathematics. Later on, he received a masters from the International Golden Institute (1995) and a doctorate from Jakarta State University (1999).

After earning his bachelor's degree, Koster worked at the Ministry of Education and Culture as a researcher between 1988 and 1995. He then became a non-permanent lecturer at Tarumanagara University, Pelita Harapan University, Jakarta State University and an economic institute.

Political career

Parliament

By 2003, Koster was a specialist staff member in PDI-P. In 2004, he ran for a seat in the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia as part of PDI-P. During the campaigning process, he headed a committee for a rally supporting the party in his hometown. Participants of the rally clashed with that of another rally supporting Golkar, resulting in two deaths from the latter group. Koster received a civil suit due to his position. Regardless, Koster secured a seat in the parliament after the 2004 election, and was sworn in on 1 October that year.

After being reelected in 2009 with 185,901 votes, Koster was investigated by the Corruption Eradication Commission several times during his second term. He was questioned in 2011 regarding a case in the education ministry, in 2013 regarding another case related to the National Sports Week, and in 2014 about the cases of Akil Mochtar and the Hambalang sports complex. He was reelected for a third term in 2014, winning 260,342 votes. This was the most votes for Bali candidates and the third-most votes won by a parliamentary candidate nationally, after fellow PDI-P members Karolin Margret Natasa and Puan Maharani.

During most of his time in parliament, Koster was part of the tenth commission covering education, culture, sports, tourism, and the creative economy. He had voiced opposition against a 2014 law that would alter the selection of the parliamentary speaker from appointment by the largest party in an election to that of a parliamentary vote. He also voiced his support for a law which would allow Balinese villages to pick between being a "cultural village" or a standard village. He was eventually retasked to the fifth commission on public works, transportation and rural development.

Governor of Bali

2018 gubernatorial election

In 2018, Koster ran in the gubernatorial elections for Bali, resigning from his parliament seat in order to do so. Running with Cok Ace, the pair won with 57.68 percent of the votes. He was sworn in on 5 September 2018.

During the campaigning period, Koster stated that he wished to alter the family planning program in Bali by changing the recommended number of children from two to four in order to fit Balinese traditions.

First term (2018–2023)

Traditional Balinese dress

In 2018 Koster issued Bali Governor's Regulation No. 79 of 2018 which mandated that city officials wear traditional Balinese dress, such as that made of ''songket''. This was followed by Circular No. 4 of 2021 which specified the use of Endek fabrics, and was expanded to high-ranking individuals in the private sector and other institutions.

Ban on plastic

Koster announced a ban on plastic, as stipulated in Gubernatorial Regulation (Pergub) No. 97/2018, expressing hope that the policy would lead to a 70 percent decline in Bali's marine plastics within a year.

In 2021, he was one of twelve individuals named in a suit by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON, known locally as the "Hare Krishna") for allegedly hindering worship activities.

On 15–16 November 2022, with the 2022 G20 Bali summit, the seventeenth meeting of the Group of Twenty (G20) was held in Nusa Dua.

North Bali International Airport

In 2022-2023, the construction of a new airport in North Bali was officially canceled after crossed out from the National Strategic Project (PSN) by President Joko Widodo and also get a strong rejection from the PDI-P general chair Megawati Soekarnoputri, the construction of the airport in North Bali has existed since the era of Made Mangku Pastika, the 8th governor of Bali, the airport will later be built in Kubutambahan district, Buleleng Regency, Bali, close to Singaraja City (former capital of Bali), The aim of building this airport is to reduce mass tourism in South Bali by bringing it to North Bali, and also the problem of economic inequality between the two regions in Bali. In 2024 Koster claims that the construction of the airport was not rejected, but it was canceled because there was no meeting point regarding the land fulfillment.

In 2024 at the start of Koster's campaign for the next gubernatorial election, Koster said he will try to continue the construction of the airport in North Bali if he was re-elected as governor.

2024 gubernatorial election

On August 23, 2024 Koster again ran for Governor of Bali in the 2024 gubernatorial election, He was again promoted by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), this time He was accompanied by the Regent of Badung for two terms I Nyoman Giri Prasta who was considered more qualified and well known among Balinese people than previous vice governor Cok Ace. Even though he has become a controversial figure among the public because of his rejection of the Israeli national team at the U20 World Cup in Bali in 2023, he winning the election with more than 61% of the vote. Koster-Giri was inaugurated on February 20, 2025.

Second term (2025–present)

New regulations

After being inaugurated on February 20, Wayan Koster made 15 new regulations during his second term. The regulations made will be in the form of regional regulations (perda) and gubernatorial regulations (pergub).

Gilimanuk-Mengwi Toll Road Project, 2025–present

In March 2025, Wayan Koster emphasized that the Gilimanuk-Mengwi Toll Road would continue according to plan even though it was not included in the 77 National Strategic Project(PSN).
Koster said that the project was still being programmed. He said that an evaluation of the route to be taken was currently being carried out.

Koster is optimistic that this project can be realized according to plan, even though it has raised public questions regarding the continuation of the construction of the first toll road in Bali.

He emphasized that the project will continue to be carried out by the local government because of the importance of this infrastructure in facilitating connectivity between West Bali and the economic center in South Bali.

Four Children Program, 2025–present

In March 2025, Wayan Koster created a four children program to protect the names Nyoman or Komang and Ketut. According to him, typical Balinese names of third and fourth children are threatened with extinction.

Koster said he will give a Incentives for the third child with the first name Komang or Nyoman and the fourth child with the first name Ketut. The incentives will begin in 2025.

Bali Provincial Government (Pemprov), Koster said that he would form a team to arrange the technicalities of providing the incentives.

Foreign tourists issues rules, 2025–present

On March 27, 2025, Wayan Koster through the Circular Letter (SE) of the Governor of Bali Number 7 of 2025 concerning the New Order for foreign tourists while in Bali.
The regulation is an improvement on SE Number 4 of 2023 which regulates similar matters. Koster said that the new rules for foreign tourists will be stricter.

This circular regulates the thirteen obligations and eight prohibitions for foreign tourists while in Bali.

He hopes that with the existence of these new regulations, tourism on the island of Bali can run more orderly and with quality. The Bali Provincial Government will also coordinate with consuls or diplomatic officials of countries in Bali to ensure that these rules are complied with by foreign tourists.

On April 7, 2025, the Bali Provincial Government Wayan Koster strengthened this rule by adding 6 new obligations for foreign tourists while in Bali, including, the obligation to wear polite clothing and the obligation to use the Indonesian Standard QR Code or QRIS when paying.

Mandatory Balinese plates vehicle, 2025–present

In March 2025, Wayan Koster issued a regional regulation (Perda) or Governor's Regulation (Pergub) requiring transportation vehicles to have Balinese DK plates. This rule applies to all online and conventional transportation, including taxis and motorcycle taxis, and to use Balinese ID cards.

Ban on the Production of Single-Use Plastic Bottled Drinking Water with a Volume of Less than 1 Liter (Bali Clean Garbage Movement), 2025–present

On April 6, 2025, Koster officially issued a ban on the production of single-use plastic bottled drinking water with a volume of less than 1 liter. This policy is stated in Circular Letter Number 09 of 2025 as part of a long-term effort to address the problem of plastic waste in the Bali Island region.

This ban aims to reduce the impact of environmental pollution caused by single-use plastic waste. In his statement, Governor Koster emphasized that this policy is not intended to kill the businesses of local entrepreneurs, but rather to encourage the use of more environmentally friendly packaging. He gave an example of the use of glass bottles as a better alternative, as has been implemented by local producers in Karangasem.

The Bali Provincial Government plans to hold a dialogue with all bottled drinking water business actors, including large companies such as Danone and local UKM actors, to socialize this policy. In addition to prohibiting production, this policy also applies to suppliers and distributors of single-use plastic bottled drinking water products.

To ensure the implementation of the policy, the Governor has assigned Satpol PP and related regional apparatuses to carry out supervision in the field. The involvement of environmental communities and the wider community is also expected to strengthen supervision and support source-based waste management and restrictions on the use of single-use plastic.

Political stance

Evaluation of the Film Law

On February 15 2016, Koster asked to the Indonesian Film Producer Association (APROFI) whether there was any investment originating from China.

Law No.17 of 2014 concerning the MPR, DPR, DPD and DPRD (Constitution MD3)

''"This must be changed by friends in the DPR. This is not fair. Political nuances are fine, but don't be too vulgar. This is not healthy."'' - Wayan Koster.

Law (Constitution) No.6 of 2014

''"I fought hard to get this provision on Traditional Villages included in the Village Law."'' - Wayan Koster.

National Examination (UN) moratorium policy

On December 1, 2016, Koster stated his notes that the debate on the National Examination (UN) had been going on since 2004 and the DPR's position at that time was against the UN. The UN which at that time was still a graduation requirement was not in accordance with Law No. 20 of 2003 Article 51 so that negotiations took place between the DPR and the Government. The result was an agreement of 60% of the UN and 30% of the UAS. According to Wayan, the steps taken by the Minister of Education & Culture (Mendikbud) this time were more radical by eliminating the UN even though the steps were in accordance with the Law. Wayan suggested that when it was communicated to the media later, it would not be stated that the UN was eliminated but rather an evaluation policy that was carried out in stages. Wayan argued that the quality of education was not the same as the UN because psychologically the UN was used as prestige in several regions, thus opening up opportunities for leaks. Wayan added that the UN was something that was biased but received a fairly large budget. Personally, Wayan agrees with the elimination of the UN but it needs to be balanced with a policy of improving quality and not all are released to the regions because not all regions can commit.

Performance evaluation of the State Film Production Company (PPFN)

On February 9, 2016, Koster was of the opinion that this institution must first be determined whether this institution is still operating or not. If so, will this institution be made into a type of Perum or Limited Liability Company (PT)?

About the discourse on cabinet and ministry downsizing

On September 11, 2014, Wayan Koster said that the Jokowi and Jusuf Kalla government should not merge four ministries that carry out basic service functions. These are the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry of Religion, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Public Works.

"Institutional change with an efficiency approach alone cannot be based on theory on paper, but must be combined with previous government experience, so as not to be lulled by beautiful expressions that can actually lead you astray," said Koster at the DPR Building, Jakarta, Thursday (11/9/2014).

About the PDI-P Congress

On March 17, 2015, Koster stated that he believed the 4th Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) congress would be quiet. The reason is, the majority of administrators, from the center to the regions, agreed to re-appoint Megawati Soekarnoputri as general chairperson again.

Personal life

Koster is married and has two daughters. Married in 1999 his wife was an artist and actress, while his eldest daughter currently known to be working in the Netherlands.

Controversies

2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup

On 21 March 2023, Koster stated that he rejected the participation of the Israel national under-19 football team in the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup, then scheduled to be held in Bali. His decision received a protest from the head of Local House of Representative of the Province of Bali. After FIFA announced that Indonesia was removed as a host of the U-20 World Cup, Indonesian internet users expressed their frustration by flooding Koster's Instagram account comment column. In one of the interviews Koster said that The rejection was not his "stances", he was only following the direction of the party's general chairman Megawati Soekarnoputri and adhering to Soekarno's principle that Israel may not compete officially in Indonesia's sovereign territory. In the 2024 Bali gubernatorial election debate, Koster's rival Made Muliawan Arya uses this issue to attackting Koster, this was accompanied by loud cheers from the audience watching the debate.

2023 World Beach Games

On 4 July 2023, Indonesia announced it would no longer host the 2023 Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) World Beach Games. About 1,500 athletes from 100 countries were set to compete in Bali from August 5 to 15 in the youth-focused tournament featuring sports including beach soccer, surfing, sailing and beach volleyball. ANOC cited no political reason for Indonesia’s withdrawal in its statement but it follows reported comments from Bali Governor Wayan Koster rejecting Israel’s presence in Bali ahead of the games.

References

External links

Bali Provincial Government site

Official Residence of the Governor of Bali Jaya Sabha

* {{Youtube, channel=wayankoster

1962 births
Governors of Bali
Living people
People from Buleleng Regency
Indonesian Hindus
Balinese people
Members of the House of Representatives (Indonesia), 2004
Members of the House of Representatives (Indonesia), 2009
Members of the House of Representatives (Indonesia), 2014
Bandung Institute of Technology alumni
Jakarta State University alumni