Koster explains context of resurfaced 'you, be quiet' video

Denpasar (ANTARA) — Bali Governor Wayan Koster has clarified an old video clip that has gone viral again on social media, showing him saying ‘you, be quiet’ during the demolition of buildings at Bingin Beach in Badung Regency.

‘Ah, this is a clip from when I was carrying out the demolition of illegal buildings occupying state-owned land at Bingin Beach,’ Koster said in Denpasar on Monday.

Koster explained that the remark was made as he led the dismantling of a row of villas, restaurants and bars deemed to be in violation of regulations in the coastal area.

‘I was fully fired up about enforcing order. I said it was not allowed, it had to be demolished — the bars, the restaurants too. Of course it had to be done with high spirits; demolish them because they violate the rules,’ he said.

According to Koster, the clip captured the moment a resident interrupted the enforcement process by questioning the fate of workers affected by the demolition of the tourism facilities.

‘While the operation was under way, someone interjected, saying, Sir, is the government thinking about the workers? So I said, you, be quiet — we are focused on the demolition, thinking about the workers’ jobs; there will be time to deal with the workers later,’ he recounted.

‘The context has been twisted to make it look as though I was berating someone, but it doesn’t matter. Let people judge it that way; I remain patient,’ he said.

The video circulating again is documentation of a building demolition operation in the Bingin Beach area of Pecatu Village, South Kuta District, Badung Regency, on 21 July 2025 — not a new incident in September 2026.

In that operation, the Bali Provincial Government, together with the local regional government, demolished buildings deemed to breach regulations in the Bingin Beach coastal area.

The operation covered 48 buildings said to be in violation of the rules and located in an area whose use must comply with applicable regulations.

The Bali Provincial Government carried out the demolition to restore the function of state-owned land and to enforce the rules governing the use of coastal areas.

In that context, Koster said the government continues to pay attention to the plight of affected workers, but the demolition of buildings that violate the rules must still proceed.