Kelingking Glass Lift Trial: Part of Construction Found in Marine Space
A court hearing regarding the lawsuit over the glass lift project at Kelingking Beach, Nusa Penida, Klungkung, has revealed that part of the construction is situated in marine space and has yet to secure the necessary permits. This fact emerged during testimony from two Bali Provincial Government witnesses at the Denpasar State Administrative Court (PTUN) on Thursday (9/7/2026).
The first witness, Head of Marine Affairs at the Bali Marine and Fisheries Service, I Nengah Bagus Sugiarta, stated that his office received an application for marine space utilisation from PT Indonesia Kaishi Tourism Property Investment Development Group in 2022 for the construction of the glass lift. He explained that initial overlay results indicated the coordinate points were on land, prompting coordination with the Bali Provincial Public Works and Spatial Planning (PUPR) Service. However, a field survey found that the building’s foundation was located in the coastal area or marine space.
‘We requested the coordinate points because it relates to marine territory. After conducting a study based on the field team’s report, we concluded the building is in the marine space, so we advised PT Indonesia Kaishi to process a KKPRL (Marine Space Utilisation Activity Conformity),’ Sugiarta told the panel of judges.
Sugiarta disclosed that the company submitted another application in 2025, but this time it was not for the glass lift construction, rather for coastal protection and a rest area. He said the overlay results for this application showed the location was in a coastal waters zone designated for utilisation under Bali Provincial Regulation No. 2 of 2023 on Regional Spatial Planning. During cross-examination, Sugiarta admitted he did not personally observe the position of the piles in the field, with his knowledge coming from the survey team’s report. He also confirmed that the coordinates submitted by the company in 2022 differed from the 2025 application and did not overlap.
The second witness, Kadek Sri Arini from the Bali PUPR Service, said her office became aware of the project when the Spatial Utilisation Activity Conformity (PKKPR) approval was issued in October 2022. She participated in a field inspection in June 2024 alongside the Bali Civil Service Police Unit, Klungkung Regency Government, Bali Provincial DPMPTSP, and Bali Environmental Service. ‘Based on the analysis of spatial utilisation permits referring to the Klungkung Regency RTRW, the location is in a tourism area,’ she said.
Sri Arini explained that coordination meetings in October and November 2025 concluded that the building within the scope of the PKKPR complied with spatial utilisation conformity. However, the part of the building outside the PKKPR scope, particularly in the cliff area, was deemed not to have the required permits. She stressed that the PUPR Service’s authority only covers land areas, while buildings in marine space require separate permits according to marine sector regulations. ‘PKKPR only relates to spatial utilisation conformity. For buildings in marine space, there are other licensing mechanisms according to the authority of the relevant agencies,’ Sri Arini said.
The lawsuit was filed by PT Indonesia Kaishi Tourism Property Investment Development Group after the Bali Provincial Government halted the glass lift construction at Kelingking Beach following a recommendation from the DPRD Bali’s Special Committee on Spatial Planning, Assets, and Licensing (TRAP), which found alleged licensing issues. In its lawsuit, the company disputes the administrative action that formed the basis for the work stoppage. Meanwhile, the Bali Provincial Government maintains that the halt was necessary to enforce spatial planning, marine space utilisation, and building permit regulations. The case is currently in the evidentiary stage, and once witness and evidence examination is complete, the trial will proceed to the submission of conclusions by the parties before the panel of judges delivers a verdict.