# I Wayan Koster

I Wayan Koster (Balinese: ᬇ​ᬯᬬᬦ᭄​ᬓᭀᬲ᭄ᬢᬾᬃ; born 20 October 1962) is an Indonesian politician and economist who is the 9th governor of Bali, serving in 2018–2023 and since February 2025. He was a member of the House of Representatives (DPR) representing the province of Bali from 2004 to 2018 with the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P).
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 of 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/PERADAH Indonesia) and Secretary General of the Tax Base Prajaniti Hindu Indonesia.

## Education and early career

Koster was born in the village of Sembiran in the Tejakula district of Buleleng Regency of Bali 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).
After earning his bachelor's degree, Koster worked at the Ministry of Education and Culture as a researcher between 1988 and 1995. He then became a non-permanent lecturer at Tarumanagara University, Pelita Harapan University, Jakarta State University and an economic institute.

## Political career
### Parliament

By 2003, Koster was a specialist staff member in PDI-P. 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. Regardless, Koster secured a seat in the parliament after the 2004 election, and was sworn in on 1 October that year.
After being reelected in 2009 with 185,901 votes, 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, in 2013 regarding another case related to the National Sports Week, and in 2014 about the cases of Akil Mochtar and the Hambalang sports complex. 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.
During most of his time in parliament, Koster was part of the tenth commission covering education, culture, sports, tourism, and the creative economy. 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. He also voiced his support for a law which would allow Balinese villages to pick between being a "cultural village" or a standard village. He was eventually retasked to the fifth commission on public works, transportation and rural development.

### 2018 gubernatorial election

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

### 2024 gubernatorial election

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. As a result, these two candidate pairs succeeded in winning the election with more than 61% of the vote. Koster-Giri was inaugurated on February 20, 2025.

## Political stance
### Evaluation of the Film Law

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

### Law No.17 of 2014 concerning the MPR, DPR, DPD and DPRD (Constitution MD3)

"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.

### Law (Constitution) No.6 of 2014

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

### National Examination (UN) moratorium policy

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.

### Performance evaluation of the State Film Production Company (PPFN)

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)?

### About the discourse on cabinet and ministry downsizing

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).

### About the PDI-P Congress

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.

## Personal life

Koster is married and has two daughters. Married in 1999 his wife was an artist and actress, while his eldest daughter currently known to be working in the Netherlands.

## Controversies
### 2023 FIFA U-20 World Cup

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. His decision received a protest from the head of Local House of Representative of the Province of Bali. 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. In one of the interviews Koster said that The rejection was not his "attitude", he was only following the direction of the party's general chairman Megawati Soekarnoputri and adhering to Soekarno's principle that Israel may not compete officially in Indonesia's sovereign territory. In the 2024 Bali gubernatorial election debate, Koster's rival Made Muliawan Arya uses this issue to attackting Koster, this was accompanied by loud cheers from the audience watching the debate.
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. 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.