Bali Governor Wayan Koster has announced plans to ban non-Balinese individuals from working as drivers of tourist transport.
“Vehicles transporting tourists with license plates not registered in Bali will no longer be allowed to operate. They must use Bali-registered DK plates, and the drivers must hold Indonesian ID cards (KTP) with a Balinese address,” Koster stated.
The governor emphasized that these rules will be strictly enforced to protect local residents, whose land is increasingly being taken over by outsiders, making it harder for native Balinese to earn a living. He promised that strict measures will begin to be implemented by the end of March.
The Land Transport Association (ORGANDA), however, has proposed not to base the regulations on ID cards (KTP), stating that personal documents should not become a point of contention. According to the association’s chairman, Nyoman Sena, the focus should be on ensuring that workers are competent, meet legal requirements, and understand and respect Balinese culture and traditions.
He compared tourist transport drivers to hotel workers, who are now required to obtain professional competency certificates. In his view, drivers should not only hold standard driving licenses but also be certified in Balinese culture and geography.
The Bali Parliament also expressed concern about the proposed KTP-based restriction. Its chairman, I Nyoman Suyasa, stated that making KTPs a mandatory requirement is not feasible, as it would contradict national laws.
Nonetheless, Suyasa stressed that discussions on the draft regulation will continue with input from various parties. He expects the regulation to be finalized within three months. Suyasa indicated that policies regarding vehicles with license plates other than DK are very likely to be enforced—and this will apply to all vehicles operating in Bali.
Sources: tribunnews, detik
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