Wayan Koster Affirms Bali's Support for President Prabowo's Priority Programmes

Bali Governor Wayan Koster has affirmed the Bali Provincial Government’s commitment to supporting various national strategic programmes launched by President Prabowo Subianto, including the Free Nutritious Meals Programme (MBG), the Red and White Village/Sub-district Cooperatives, and the People’s Schools. Koster stated that this support goes beyond mere statements and has been realised through the provision of land to facilitate the implementation of the central government’s priority programmes across Bali. One step already taken is the preparation of 7.1 hectares of land for the construction of Nutritional Service Fulfilment Unit (SPPG) facilities to support the Free Nutritious Meals Programme. The land is spread across all regencies and cities in Bali and was submitted to the Head of the National Nutrition Agency on 20 May 2025. Additionally, the Bali Provincial Government has provided over two hectares of land for the construction of Red and White Village/Sub-district Cooperative facilities, also distributed across all regencies and cities. To support the People’s Schools Programme, the regional government has prepared 5.67 hectares of land in Tulamben Village, Kubu District, Karangasem Regency. ‘For the People’s School, construction is almost complete and preparations for new student admissions have been made,’ Koster said. According to Koster, from the outset he instructed the Regional Secretary of Bali Province along with all relevant regional apparatus to coordinate with the central government and regency/city governments in implementing the Free Nutritious Meals Programme, the Red and White Village/Sub-district Cooperatives, and the People’s Schools so they can run optimally in Bali. He stressed that regional governments have an obligation to implement national strategic policies and programmes as part of an integrated government system between the central and regional governments. ‘There is only one government, encompassing the Central Government and Regional Governments, where Regional Governments and regional heads have the obligation to implement the strategic policies and programmes of the government led by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Prabowo Subianto,’ he stated. Koster explained that this affirmation was delivered to clarify various pieces of information circulating on social media regarding the Bali Provincial Government’s stance towards the central government’s programmes. According to him, a perception had emerged that Bali did not support President Prabowo’s priority programmes. Therefore, he stressed that the regional government has actually taken various concrete steps to ensure the successful implementation of these programmes. ‘This affirmation is conveyed to clarify the news on social media so that the Balinese people gain a correct understanding of Bali’s commitment to supporting national priority programmes,’ he said. Koster also invited all elements of society, including social media users, to convey accurate, objective, and responsible information and not to be easily influenced by misleading information. ‘Let us together support and make a success of the national strategic programmes implemented by the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Mr Prabowo Subianto,’ Koster said.