DKI Jakarta Councillor on Noisy Padel Courts: Must Be Taken Seriously
Commission A member of the DKI Jakarta Regional Legislative Council (DPRD), Kevin Wu, has highlighted the issue of noisy padel courts disturbing residents in Cilandak, South Jakarta, urging that community comfort be given due consideration.
“Residents’ comfort must also be taken into account here, otherwise the problem will only fester and grow into a bigger issue down the line,” Kevin Wu said when contacted on Sunday (22/2/2026).
He added that whilst businesses should be free to develop, the right to comfort of surrounding residents must not be sidelined. He cautioned against allowing conflicts to emerge in the future.
“The principle is simple — businesses may develop, sport can carry on, but the right of local residents to live comfortably must also be protected. Business activities must not give rise to social conflict,” he stressed.
Kevin said he supports the development of padel as a sport in Jakarta in principle, but not at the cost of generating complaints from surrounding communities.
“However, when residents’ complaints about noise have already surfaced, they certainly cannot be ignored and must be followed up seriously. In fact, this also touches on fundamental permit issues,” he said.
He noted that Regional Regulation No. 8/2007 stipulates that every business activity causing an impact on the surrounding environment must obtain a permit under the Nuisance Act. He therefore questioned whether the business permits in question had been fully processed.
“So the question is whether the permits have been obtained by the padel court owner in question. And if they have, how did the process unfold such that once the business was established, surrounding residents are still complaining,” Kevin said.
Kevin indicated his readiness to assist both parties in mediation if needed, expressing his desire for a fair solution for all.
“If necessary, Commission A is prepared to facilitate mediation so that there is a fair solution for all parties,” he said.
Previously, DKI Jakarta Governor Pramono Anung had instructed that the padel courts be inspected and that firm measures would be taken.
“I have specifically asked the relevant agencies to carry out field inspections regarding this padel issue,” Pramono said on Friday (20/2).
He said a decision on the fate of the padel courts would be made the following week, noting that the facilities had neither received community approval nor held complete permits.
“On Monday or Tuesday we will promptly decide on padel courts that disturb public order, have not obtained the approval of local residents, and lack complete permits. The DKI Jakarta government will take firm action,” he said.