The Governor of Bali, I Wayan Koster, is set to establish a dedicated task force aimed at tackling the persistent issue of waste accumulating along Bali’s renowned coastlines. This decisive move comes in the wake of President Prabowo Subianto’s recent remarks on widespread trash problems during a briefing for the 2026 National Coordination Meeting.
Koster affirmed that the Bali Provincial Government would swiftly form this special task force to address the unsightly waste plaguing the island’s shores, which significantly detracts from the “Island of the Gods'” natural beauty.
“Following the President’s directive, we will promptly convene the Head of the Environmental Agency, the Head of BPBD (Regional Disaster Management Agency), the Head of the Education Agency, as well as representatives from the TNI (Indonesian National Armed Forces) and Polri (Indonesian National Police),” Koster stated at the Sentul International Convention Center (SICC) in Bogor recently. “I will form a task force to be on guard at the beaches so that when trash arrives, it can be immediately cleaned.”
Koster elaborated that the specific type of waste highlighted by President Prabowo largely consists of “sent-in” or “delivered” trash, which predominantly washes ashore during periods of heavy rainfall.
“The trash on Kuta Beach, for instance, is seasonal ‘sent-in’ waste that typically appears during the rainy season, particularly from late December through January and early February,” he clarified, emphasizing the transient nature of the problem.
To combat this recurring environmental challenge, Koster also confirmed that heavy equipment has already been strategically positioned near the beaches, ready for deployment to clear any incoming debris.
“I have already discussed this with the Regent of Badung and the Mayor of Denpasar to ensure we collectively establish this task force and maintain heavy equipment on standby in those areas,” he added, underscoring inter-regional cooperation.
The call for action from Governor Koster echoes President Prabowo’s earlier strong sentiments regarding the pervasive trash issue across Indonesia. Prabowo had previously insisted that these problems demand tangible solutions and “real work,” rather than mere complaints or “shouting curses.”
President Prabowo emphasized the crucial role of the tourism sector as a primary job creator, noting that developing tourist areas is often the quickest and most cost-effective path to economic growth. However, he stressed a critical point: tourists visit Indonesia for its beauty, not to encounter unsightly waste.
“But I urge, my brothers and sisters, regarding tourism, do tourists want to come and see trash? Indonesia is beautiful, do they want to come and see squalor? They want to visit Bali, only to find Bali’s beaches dirty,” Prabowo recounted. He then shared a poignant encounter: “I met prominent figures, ministers, generals in Korea – sometimes soldiers, wherever they are, don’t mince words; they speak frankly. He told me…”
Prabowo continued, relating the impactful feedback: “‘Your Excellency, I just came from Bali, oh Bali so dirty now, Bali not nice.’ Bah, but I accept that as a correction. We must overcome this together,” he concluded, highlighting the collective responsibility to restore Bali’s iconic allure.
Summary
Bali Governor I Wayan Koster plans to establish