PDIP Secretary-General Warns North Bali Airport Plan Threatens Land and Culture, Urges 100-Year Vision
PDIP Secretary-General Hasto Kristiyanto has called for a review of the proposed North Bali International Airport, warning that speculative land buying is already occurring despite the project remaining only a plan. He argues Bali's development should prioritize a long-term 'Bali for 100 years' vision protecting culture, ecology, and local land rights over short-term economic growth.
On August 31, 2026, PDI Perjuangan (PDIP) Secretary-General Hasto Kristiyanto stated that Bali's development must be approached with a long-term, 100-year perspective rather than focusing solely on economic growth and infrastructure expansion.
According to Hasto, this view underpins PDIP Chairwoman Megawati Soekarnoputri's cautious stance on the proposed North Bali International Airport. Citing recent disasters in Nepal and widespread forest fires as evidence of severe environmental degradation, Hasto argued that Bali must be viewed as a single ecological unit—agricultural land should be protected from conversion, logistics should shift to sea routes encircling the island, and a railway connecting Denpasar and Singaraja should be built instead. He called the North Bali airport proposal "highly inappropriate," warning it would only accelerate exploitation of Bali.
Hasto noted that even while the airport remains merely a plan, large-scale land buying and speculation are already underway, reflecting the dominance of oligarchic and investment interests over local communities. He warned against a scenario where Balinese people lose their land and become mere spectators to development driven by big capital and foreign investment, stressing that land in Bali carries deep family history, temples, farming traditions, and spiritual connections to nature—not just economic value.
He further warned that an international airport could trigger a cascade of commercial, hotel, property, and transportation infrastructure development, increasing pressure on land, water resources, and the social and cultural fabric of North Bali if not carefully managed. Hasto emphasized that efforts to address regional development disparities should not simply reproduce the problems already caused by concentrated tourism development elsewhere in Bali.
As an alternative, he pointed to Megawati's proposal to strengthen connectivity between Surabaya, Banyuwangi, and Bali (particularly North Bali), alongside eco-friendly internal transport systems. He argued that Bali's greatest asset lies not in physical infrastructure but in its cultural wealth—traditional knowledge preserved in lontar manuscripts, traditional farming and irrigation systems, arts, customary villages (desa adat), and the Tri Hita Karana philosophy of balance.
Things to Consider
Foreign nationals considering land purchases or investment in North Bali or other areas affected by large infrastructure plans should verify land titles, zoning status, and legal ownership through a licensed notary (notaris) and independent lawyer before signing any agreement, as speculative land buying tied to unconfirmed projects like the proposed airport can carry elevated legal and financial risk. Since this airport plan remains at the political statement stage with no confirmed government decision, investors should wait for official environmental assessments and construction permits before committing funds.
Source: BALIPOST.com