Koster warns of attempts to divide Bali’s customary council and villages

Denpasar — Bali Governor Wayan Koster has publicly addressed a simmering dispute between the provincial Majelis Desa Adat (MDA) and customary villages, warning that external parties are trying to pit the institutions against each other and urging lawmakers not to escalate the polemic in public, according to local media reports.

The governor’s intervention comes amid ongoing debate over the authority and role of the MDA in relation to Bali’s desa adat, or customary villages, which are regulated under Bali Regional Regulation (Perda) No. 4 of 2019 on customary villages. The polemic has surfaced as provincial officials also review whether to revise that regulation.

Governor warns of efforts to “divide” village institutions

In coverage citing the state news agency, local outlet JPNN Bali reported that Koster sees the dispute between MDA Bali and desa adat at the regency and municipality level as rooted in “unclear boundaries” of authority between the council and the villages. He was quoted as saying he was aware of parties seeking to weaken desa adat and to set them against the MDA, and that he considered this an attempt to “mengadu domba,” or sow discord, between the institutions.

Separately, NusaBali reported that Koster raised the issue during a plenary session (rapat paripurna) and called on members of the Bali Regional House of Representatives (DPRD Bali) not to turn the desa adat discussion into an open conflict in the public sphere. According to that report, he argued that disputes over the MDA should be managed carefully and resolved without public polemics because a prolonged conflict could negatively affect the position of desa adat in Bali.

NusaBali also quoted Koster as warning that some politicians were exploiting the controversy for image-building on social media without offering concrete solutions. In the JPNN Bali account, he similarly cautioned officials and stakeholders not to be swayed by misleading narratives spread via social media.

Central issue: authority and the legal framework

Both JPNN Bali and NusaBali describe the polemic as linked to questions over the MDA’s powers and its relationship with customary villages. JPNN Bali reports that the dispute is “dilatarbelakangi oleh rancunya batasan-batasan kewenangan” — driven by confusion over the limits of the council’s authority over desa adat. Neither outlet identifies a specific decision, funding dispute or appointment that triggered the current tensions.

The authority of desa adat is grounded in Bali Provincial Regulation No. 4 of 2019 on Desa Adat in Bali, a regional regulation signed and promulgated on 28 May 2019 and currently in force. Official legal-information portals in the provincial government list the regulation as the main legal instrument establishing the status and framework for customary villages.

In 2026, the DPRD’s draft programme for forming regional regulations (Propemperda) included a proposal to amend Perda No. 4 of 2019. However, Bali Post reported that the provincial administration requested that the revision be withdrawn from the 2026 legislative programme, citing the need to consider developments and input from the community. Another Bali Post article noted that unresolved issues such as seven desa adat not initially listed in the Perda’s annex had been addressed through a gubernatorial decision, reducing the immediate pressure for a revision.

Governor’s broader argument on desa adat

In his remarks on the MDA dispute, Koster framed desa adat as more than an administrative unit, describing them as a “warisan luhur” — a noble heritage that predates the Indonesian state and forms a sociological foundation of Bali’s identity, according to NusaBali’s account. He argued that weakening desa adat could have broader consequences for Bali’s social and cultural structure.

NusaBali reported that Koster linked the current support system for customary villages to the adoption of Perda No. 4 of 2019, saying the regulation gave desa adat a stronger formal position and financial backing. He also referred to earlier efforts under former governor Ida Bagus Mantra to strengthen attention to desa adat, including challenges in finding customary leaders willing to serve without salaries before the present framework of support.

Both NusaBali and JPNN Bali noted that Koster pledged to defend the strength and existence of Bali’s desa adat and stated he was prepared to face any party that tried to undermine them. At the same time, he did not publicly specify which actors he believes are attempting to divide the MDA and customary villages, nor did the reports include a formal response from the MDA or individual desa adat regarding his allegations.

Timeline and current status

NusaBali places Koster’s prominent public comments on the MDA polemic during a plenary session identified as Paripurna 26 at the Wiswa Sabha Utama room in the governor’s office complex, held on a Monday it dates as 28 July. JPNN Bali reports his remarks as delivered during a plenary meeting of DPRD Bali and published in July 2025. Subsequent DPRD sessions in September 2026 have focused on the revised regional budget and the 2026 Propemperda, including the proposed withdrawal of the desa adat regulation amendment.

While Koster’s statements clarify his political stance and his call for restraint, the available reports do not detail whether the MDA Bali, individual desa adat or the provincial government have initiated formal mediation or legal proceedings over the contested authority.

Sources

• JDIH Provinsi Bali – Peraturan Daerah Provinsi Bali Nomor 4 Tahun 2019 tentang Desa Adat di Bali
• Bali Post – Perubahan Perda Desa Adat Bali Diusulkan Dicoret dari Propemperda 2026
• JPNN Bali – Koster Sorot Polemik MDA Bali dengan Desa Adat: Ada yang Ingin Mengadu Domba!
• NusaBali – Koster Jawab Polemik soal MDA, Sebut Ada yang Mau Lemahkan Desa Adat