Koster Issues Governor's Instruction, Adulterous Bali Civil Servants Face Dismissal
Bali Governor Wayan Koster has affirmed that civil servants (ASN) within the Bali Provincial Government who are caught having an affair may face sanctions up to and including dismissal. The rule is contained in Gubernatorial Instruction (Ingub) Number 6 of 2026 concerning the Improvement of Performance, Quality, and Integrity in the Implementation of Programmes and Public Services in Bali Province.
Koster issued the instruction to enhance the performance, quality, and integrity of the State Civil Apparatus within the Bali Provincial Government.
“That the performance, quality, and integrity of Bali Provincial Government employees need to be continuously improved to increase the achievement of programme implementation targets and to provide excellent, professional, and responsible public services oriented towards the satisfaction of the Balinese people,” Koster explained during a press conference at Jayasabha, Denpasar, on Friday (14/8/2026).
According to Koster, improving employee performance, integrity, and work quality is necessary to cultivate sound and proper thinking. This is deemed capable of accelerating the achievement of the Bali Provincial Government’s development programme implementation.
Koster stated that as civil servants, working does not merely mean arriving on time and leaving according to the designated hours. Rather, there must be actual work carried out to the fullest extent to serve the public.
Koster emphasised that all civil servants are prohibited from committing disgraceful acts, especially in the name of an agency, regional apparatus, or position. There are 10 points of prohibition highlighted by Koster, including the matter of extramarital affairs.
Koster continued that if a civil servant is found to be having an affair, they will be subject to sanctions up to and including dismissal. He mentioned that there were civil servants who had previously been dismissed for adultery.
“If a violation occurs, administrative sanctions, disciplinary punishment, and/or other legal sanctions will be imposed according to the authority over subordinates or employees suspected or proven to have violated this instruction and/or other laws and regulations,” he explained.
Nevertheless, Koster affirmed that the issuance of this instruction was not based on any history of cases. Rather, the regulation is entirely intended to improve the quality of civil servants within the Bali Provincial Government.
In this regard, Koster has also established a management team to oversee and receive complaints from the public if such violations are discovered.
“But it would be better if proper verification is still carried out, with rational data. I think that is for the good,” Koster revealed.
With the issuance of this instruction, civil servants within the Bali Provincial Government are expected to improve their work quality to achieve Bali’s development targets according to their respective regional apparatuses.
Furthermore, civil servants are asked to ensure that services to the public meet standards of quality, integrity, commendability, and compliance with applicable regulations.