Governor Koster: Discriminatory Foreigner-Run Event in Bali Must Not Happen Again

Bali Governor Wayan Koster has spoken out regarding a running event organised by foreign nationals in Canggu, Badung, which discriminated against Indonesian citizens. Koster stressed that such incidents must not be allowed to happen again. “They are currently being pursued by the Bali Police. This cannot happen again; there is already a circular, so take firm action,” Koster said when met at the Ngurah Rai Forest Park in Denpasar. According to Koster, the police and immigration authorities are pursuing two Dutch nationals suspected of organising the event. He also stated that Badung Regent I Wayan Adi Arnawa is conducting an investigation into the matter. “The Badung Regent is investigating. This must not happen again,” Koster asserted. The event, titled Bali Silent Disco, had previously drawn widespread criticism online. It was alleged to have violated immigration regulations and was heavily discriminatory towards local residents. Beyond the discrimination, the running club’s activities had also prompted complaints for disrupting traffic on public roads. The event was reportedly organised by a running community called Entourage Bali, which consists of foreign nationals. A number of registrants with Indonesian phone numbers starting with +62 were rejected from joining the community’s WhatsApp group. The controversy has drawn attention from legislators and foreign media outlets.