Bali governor says viral ‘shut up’ clip is edited footage from 2025 Bingin Beach raid
Bali Governor Wayan Koster says a viral “diam kamu” video is a short, edited clip from a 2025 demolition of illegal buildings at Bingin Beach, not a new incident, and was spoken while enforcing zoning rules on state-owned coastal land.
Editor: Mursyid Sonsang
· 3 min read
Denpasar — Bali Governor Wayan Koster has clarified that a viral clip in which he tells a member of the public “diam kamu” (“shut up”) is an edited recording from a 2025 enforcement operation at Bingin Beach, not a recent incident. The governor delivered his explanation to reporters after attending the 48th plenary session of the Bali Provincial Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) in Denpasar on Monday, 7 September 2026, according to local media reports.
According to Koster’s account, the footage was taken on 21 July 2025, when he and Badung Regent I Wayan Adi Arnawa were overseeing the demolition of buildings considered to be illegal structures on state-owned land in the Bingin Beach area of Pecatu, South Kuta, Badung. The operation targeted around 48 villas, bars and restaurants that officials said violated zoning rules or lacked complete permits.
Koster said the enforcement team was focused on ensuring the removal of the illegal buildings, describing the atmosphere at the site as energetic and demanding because the structures were deemed to be in breach of regulations. He said his firm tone during the demolition reflected the need to carry out the operation decisively.
The governor explained that the phrase “diam kamu” was directed at someone standing on the sidelines who had interrupted the demolition by asking about job opportunities and the fate of workers affected by the removal of the businesses. According to Koster, the question was not directly related to the task of clearing the unlawful buildings, prompting him to tell the person to be quiet and emphasise that employment issues would be discussed at a later stage.
Koster stressed that the circulating clip shows only a short portion of the exchange and does not reflect the full context of the enforcement operation. He said the video had been cut and uploaded again, creating the impression that he was simply berating a member of the public, rather than responding in the middle of a zoning crackdown.
Governor rejects claim of new incident
The governor has repeatedly stated that the video is “old history” and not evidence of a new incident in September 2026. He said the recording comes from the 2025 Bingin Beach operation and has been repackaged as if it were recent.
Officials and local outlets reporting on the clarification note that the July 2025 operation at Bingin Beach involved the demolition of dozens of tourism-related buildings that were said to stand on government land and lack proper licensing. The enforcement was part of broader efforts to apply coastal zoning and land-use rules more strictly in parts of Badung Regency.
Koster has also urged the public to be cautious when sharing short clips on social media, saying that edited content can be misleading if viewers do not understand the wider context. He stated that he remains patient in the face of criticism generated by the video and considered the renewed attention a test of mental resilience.
While multiple reports describe Koster’s version of events, they do not identify the person addressed in the clip or provide an independent account from that individual. The sources also do not detail the specific businesses shown in the video or whether any formal complaint was lodged over the exchange.