In a statement received in Jakarta on Wednesday, Gibran noted that the prompt follow-up to the president’s concerns reflected the Balinese community’s strong commitment to environmental sustainability and the preservation of the tourism sector.
He observed that Bali had set a positive example of collaboration among government officials, security personnel, and local residents in safeguarding the environment and maintaining public cleanliness.
“I would also like to call on all regions across Indonesia to share Bali’s spirit and emulate its commitment to environmental cleanliness,” the vice president said.
Gibran made the remarks after President Prabowo highlighted the increasingly alarming waste problem in Bali during the 2026 National Coordination Meeting of Central and Regional Governments in Bogor, West Java, on Monday (Feb. 2).
At the meeting, the president suggested that the Bali administration mobilize various students up to senior high school level to participate in routine clean-up activities to address beach waste pollution, which poses a serious threat to tourism and the local economy.
In response, Bali Governor Wayan Koster announced plans to establish a special unit tasked with monitoring beach cleanliness.
“I will set up a task force assigned to beaches. In this way, we can immediately deal with waste as soon as it appears,” Koster said in a voice recording released on the same day.
He acknowledged that waste has become a recurring issue in Bali during the rainy season, noting that much of the debris drifts into the province from outside regions. He added that it generally takes up to three hours for personnel to clear the waste after heavy rainfall.
With this in mind, the governor stressed that the planned task force is expected to significantly reduce response time in handling beach pollution.
Responding to the president’s call to mobilize students, Koster emphasized that adequate tools and equipment must also be prepared and deployed to ensure effective waste management and clean-up efforts.
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Translator: Fathur R, Tegar Nurfitra
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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