Bali News / Bali Travel and Holiday Updates

Chairman of Bali House of Representatives, Ida Bagus Wesnawa stands against the idea once voiced by the new Governor of Bali, Made Mangku Pastika to revise regulations allowing holiday developments in holly zone around Uluwatu temple to sustain. He also restresses his rejection to reconsider previous recommendation addressed to retired Governor, Dewa Made Beratha, within which Bali House of Representatives insisted the government to take strict action to enforce regulation against violation of holly zone around the sacred Uluwatu temple.

Ida Bagus Wesnawa, considered as a quiet person, has no reluctance to talk when it comes to protecting Bali. Interviewed by local daily newspaper Bali Post with regard to Pastika’s idea to revise zoning regulation, he immediately assures that the House of Representatives has no intention to revise the regulation. Contary to Pastika’s idea, he confirms that the House of Representatives will safeguard the regulation and push for enforcement, in order to protect both Balinese culture and religion as well as environment.

The regulation explicitly mentioned religious regulation – known as Bhisama – issued by Indonesian Hindu Council (PHDI), therefore more than regulating land plots where investment are not allowed, it carries religious content which has to be protected.

Furthermore the regulation is a well thought product which accommodates every related sides, including religious holly zones, tourism areas, residentials, indurstry, and protected forest. Therefore revising the regulation will be very difficult, and needs really strong reasons. “Even when revision is really needed the process has to involve each and every related stakeholders. It needs thorough consideration. And the only acceptable goal is to give better protection to Bali”, Wesnawa explains further.

Wesnawa also told that the Governor has never consulted his idea to the House of Representatives. “Never with the House of Representatives as an institution, however it is possible that he has discussed individually with certain members of the house”, he confirms.

On the other hand, Chairman of Bali Chapter of Indonesian Hindu Council (PHDI) IGN Sudiana explained that with regard to religious holly zone regulation, Bali Chapter will follow anything decided by its national directive, which clearly endorses that temple holly zone regulation is not to be changed. Sudiana further explained that unlike government regulations, religious regulation (traditionally called Bhisama) is sacred, and people can do nothing other than to obey. It is not a subject of change.