I Wayan Koster - Wikipedia

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I Wayan Koster
ᬇ​ᬯᬬᬦ᭄​ᬓᭀᬲ᭄ᬢᬾᬃ
Koster in 2023
Governor-elect of Bali
Assuming office 20 February 2025[1]
Vice Governor	I Nyoman Giri Prasta (elect)
Succeeding	Sang Made Mahendra Jaya (acting)
9th Governor of Bali
In office 5 September 2018 – 5 September 2023
President	Joko Widodo
Vice Governor	Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardana Sukawati
Preceded by	I Made Mangku Pastika
Succeeded by	Sang Made Mahendra Jaya (acting)
Member of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia
In office 1 October 2004 – 14 May 2018
Preceded by	himslef (become a member)
Succeeded by	I Gusti Agung Putri Astrid
Constituency	Bali
Personal details
Born	20 October 1962 (age 62) Singaraja, Bali, Indonesia
Political party	PDI-P
Spouse	Ni Luh Putu Putri Suastini ​ ​ (m. )​ [2]
Children	2[3]
Residence	Jaya Sabha
Education	Jakarta State University
Alma mater	Bandung Institute of Technology (BMath) International Golden Institute Jakarta State University
Occupation	Politician engineer research academician
Profession	Economist
Signature
Website	Campaign website Party website Bali Provincial Government website
Nicknames	Koster Nang Ayan Koster Wayan Koster
Koster made a speech at the 2021 Bali governor's press conference regarding COVID-19 new variant Recorded 4 May 2021

I Wayan Koster (Balinese: ᬇ​ᬯᬬᬦ᭄​ᬓᭀᬲ᭄ᬢᬾᬃ; born 20 October 1962) is an Indonesian politician and economist who is the 9th governor of Bali from 2018 to 2023. In 2024 Koster was re-elected as governor of Bali in the 2024 Bali gubernatorial election with more than 61% of vote and will be officially inaugurated in February 2025.^[4][5] Before becoming governor, He was a member of the House of Representatives (DPR) representing the province of Bali from 2004 to 2018.

Before becoming a politician, he was involved in education, Koster studied at Bandung Institute of Technology and Jakarta State University before becoming a lecturer and eventually joining Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle. In the 2014 Indonesian legislative election, Koster was the holder of the most votes in the Bali province electoral with 260,342 votes, a three-term parliamentarian representing his home province.

Koster was once a researcher at the Research and Development Agency of the Ministry of Education and Culture (1988–1994) and also a lecturer at several state and private universities (1994–2004). He became a figure in the Hindu community by serving as Deputy Secretary General of the Indonesian Hindu Youth Association (IHYA) and Secretary General of the Tax Base Prajaniti Hindu Indonesia.

Koster was born in the town of Singaraja on 20 October 1962. He completed his first twelve years of education there from 1968, graduating high school in 1980. Afterward, he moved to Bandung to study at the Bandung Institute of Technology, from where he graduated in 1987 with a bachelor's degree in mathematics. Later on, he received a masters from the International Golden Institute (1995) and a doctorate from Jakarta State University (1999).^[6][7]

After earning his bachelor's degree, Koster worked at the Ministry of Education and Culture as a researcher between 1988 and 1995.^[6] He then became a non-permanent lecturer at Tarumanagara University, Pelita Harapan University, Jakarta State University and an economic institute.^[8][9]

By 2003, Koster was a specialist staff member in PDI-P.^[8] In 2004, he ran for a seat in the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia as part of PDI-P. During the campaigning process, he headed a committee for a rally supporting the party in his hometown. Participants of the rally clashed with that of another rally supporting Golkar, resulting in two deaths from the latter group. Koster received a civil suit due to his position.^[10] Regardless, Koster secured a seat in the parliament after the 2004 election, and was sworn in on 1 October that year.^[9][11]

After being reelected in 2009 with 185,901 votes,^[9][12] Koster was investigated by the Corruption Eradication Commission several times during his second term. He was questioned in 2011 regarding a case in the education ministry,^[13] in 2013 regarding another case related to the National Sports Week,^[14] and in 2014 about the cases of Akil Mochtar^[15] and the Hambalang sports complex.^[16] He was reelected for a third term in 2014, winning 260,342 votes. This was the most votes for Bali candidates and the third-most votes won by a parliamentary candidate nationally, after fellow PDI-P members Karolin Margret Natasa and Puan Maharani.^[12][17]

During most of his time in parliament, Koster was part of the tenth commission covering education, culture, sports, tourism, and the creative economy.^[8] He had voiced opposition against a 2014 law that would alter the selection of the parliamentary speaker from appointment by the largest party in an election to that of a parliamentary vote.^[18] He also voiced his support for a law which would allow Balinese villages to pick between being a "cultural village" or a standard village.^[19] He was eventually retasked to the fifth commission on public works, transportation and rural development.^[20]

In 2018, Koster ran in the gubernatorial elections for Bali, resigning from his parliament seat in order to do so.^[21] Running with Cok Ace, the pair won with 57.68 percent of the votes.^[22] He was sworn in on 5 September 2018.^[23]

During the campaigning period, Koster stated that he wished to alter the family planning program in Bali by changing the recommended number of children from two to four in order to fit Balinese traditions.^[24]

Koster announced a ban on plastic, as stipulated in Gubernatorial Regulation (Pergub) No. 97/2018, expressing hope that the policy would lead to a 70 percent decline in Bali's marine plastics within a year.^[25] In 2021, he was one of twelve individuals named in a suit by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON, known locally as the "Hare Krishna") for allegedly hindering worship activities.^[26]

On August 23 2024 Koster again ran for Governor of Bali in the Bali gubernatorial election, He was again promoted by the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDIP), this time He was accompanied by the Regent of Badung for two terms I Nyoman Giri Prasta who was considered more qualified and well-known among Balinese people than previous vice governor Cok Ace. This pair was officially registered with the General Elections Commission (KPU) on August 29 2024.^[27] As a result, these two candidate pairs succeeded in winning the election with more than 61% of the vote.

On January 9 2025 I Wayan Koster and I Nyoman Giri Prasta were officially appointed as Governor and Vice Governor of Bali elected by the General Elections Commission of Bali Province in an Open Plenary Meeting on January 9 2025 based on Bali Province General Election Commission Decision Number 26 of 2025

On February 15 2016, Koster asked to Indonesian Film Producer Association (APROFI) whether there was any investment originating from China.^[28]

"This must be changed by friends in the DPR. This is not fair. Political nuances are fine, but don't be too vulgar. This is not healthy." - Wayan Koster.^[29]

"I fought hard to get this provision on Traditional Villages included in the Village Law." - Wayan Koster.^[30]

On December 1, 2016, Koster stated his notes that the debate on the National Examination (UN) had been going on since 2004 and the DPR's position at that time was against the UN. The UN which at that time was still a graduation requirement was not in accordance with Law No. 20 of 2003 Article 51 so that negotiations took place between the DPR and the Government. The result was an agreement of 60% of the UN and 30% of the UAS. According to Wayan, the steps taken by the Minister of Education & Culture (Mendikbud) this time were more radical by eliminating the UN even though the steps were in accordance with the Law. Wayan suggested that when it was communicated to the media later, it would not be stated that the UN was eliminated but rather an evaluation policy that was carried out in stages. Wayan argued that the quality of education was not the same as the UN because psychologically the UN was used as prestige in several regions, thus opening up opportunities for leaks. Wayan added that the UN was something that was biased but received a fairly large budget. Personally, Wayan agrees with the elimination of the UN but it needs to be balanced with a policy of improving quality and not all are released to the regions because not all regions can commit. [source]

On February 9, 2016, Koster was of the opinion that this institution must first be determined whether this institution is still operating or not. If so, will this institution be made into a type of Perum or Limited Liability Company (PT)?^[31]

On September 29, 2015, Koster opined that the current budget posture of the Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education (Kemristekdikti) is very vulnerable.^[32]

On September 15, 2015, in designing the budget and program, the government must adhere to the law. BOPTN has been regulated in law so that the contribution of educational development (SPP) for students does not increase each year. Therefore, Kemenristekdikti programs can be mapped between regular or binding, such as the National Selection for Entry to State Universities (SNMPTN) and Joint Selection for Entry to State Universities (SBMPTN). According to Wayan, the budget ceiling of IDR 37 trillion must be increased to IDR 45 trillion or more.^[33]

On September 11, 2014, Wayan Koster said that the Jokowi and Jusuf Kalla government should not merge four ministries that carry out basic service functions. These are the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Ministry of Religion, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Public Works.

"Institutional change with an efficiency approach alone cannot be based on theory on paper, but must be combined with previous government experience, so as not to be lulled by beautiful expressions that can actually lead you astray," said Koster at the DPR Building, Jakarta, Thursday (11/9/2014).^[34]

On June 29-30, 2015, Koster highlighted the budget for education. Wayan doubts that the 12-year Compulsory Education Program can run if the budget ceiling is still the same as before. Wayan urged the Secretary General of the Ministry of Education and Culture (Sekjen Dikbud) to change the budget note. Wayan asked for special attention regarding improving the quality of teachers. According to Wayan, there must be a special program to take care of teachers because many civil servant teachers ask to move even though their work period is only 1 year and become a burden on the region. According to Wayan, many PAUD teachers still get a salary of Rp. 100,000 and are not funded by the APBN. Wayan asked the Secretary General of the Ministry of Education and Culture to tidy up and tighten the teacher recruitment process and adjust the salaries of PAUD teachers to the local UMP. Regarding the budget for Islamic religious education, Wayan asked the Secretary General of the Ministry of Religion to explain why there was no budget for Christian, Catholic, Hindu and Buddhist religious education because in Indonesia all religions have the same status. Wayan highlighted the lower Defense Budget Ceiling. Wayan is worried that if the Government does not pay attention, our defense sovereignty will be threatened. Wayan reminded the Government about the TNI-POLRI remuneration that has not been resolved even though the welfare of the TNI-POLRI is a promise from the Government.

In relation to law enforcement, Wayan explained that Bali is prone to the entry of drugs. Wayan asked the Police to cut it from the upstream. Not like now where only the 'downstream' is handled so that the problem never ends. Wayan urges the Police to have a prevention program, especially distribution through ports.^{[35] [36]}

On March 17, 2015, Koster stated that he believed the 4th Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) congress would be quiet. The reason is, the majority of administrators, from the center to the regions, agreed to re-appoint Megawati Soekarnoputri as general chairperson again.

On 21 March 2023, Koster stated that he rejected the participation of the Israel national under-19 football team in the 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup, then scheduled to be held in Bali.^[37] His decision received a protest from the head of Local House of Representative of the Province of Bali.^[38] After FIFA announced that Indonesia was removed as a host of the U-20 World Cup, Indonesian internet users expressed their frustration by flooding Koster's Instagram account comment column.^[39]

2023 World Beach Games

On 4 July 2023, Indonesia announced it would no longer host the 2023 Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) World Beach Games. About 1,500 athletes from 100 countries were set to compete in Bali from August 5 to 15 in the youth-focused tournament featuring sports including beach soccer, surfing, sailing and beach volleyball.^[40] ANOC cited no political reason for Indonesia’s withdrawal in its statement but it follows reported comments from Bali Governor Wayan Koster rejecting Israel’s presence in Bali ahead of the games.

Political offices
Preceded by I Made Mangku Pastika	Governor of Bali 2018–2023	Succeeded by Sang Ade Mahendra