The controversy surrounding the construction of a glass elevator at Kelingking Beach, Nusa Penida, Bali, has reignited after the project’s investor won a lawsuit against the Bali Provincial Government at the Denpasar Administrative Court.
Regardless of the court’s decision, the project cannot proceed immediately, as the Bali Provincial Government has confirmed it will file an appeal. Bali Governor Wayan Koster said the Bali Provincial Government team is drafting the appeal documents to overturn the initial court ruling.
“We will appeal the glass elevator lawsuit,” Koster stated while speaking to the media after attending the 48th Plenary Session of the Bali Provincial Regional House of Representatives on Monday, the 7th of September.
Koster questioned the legal reasoning of the panel of judges who ruled in favour of the investor’s lawsuit. He pointed out that the scope of the Building Approval (Persetujuan Bangunan Gedung or PBG) permit held by the investor was actually very limited and did not cover the entire physical structure on the Kelingking Beach cliff.
Furthermore, according to Koster, the valid PBG document held by the investor covered only a 5-metre-wide ticket booth, not the other supporting infrastructure stretching hundreds of metres.
“If we look at the substance of the matter, the PBG permit granted was only for 5 metres—just a ticket booth. The attachments, however, were extensive—including a bridge and a descending elevator—spanning 800 metres on their own. There was no PBG permit for that,” the Governor continued.
In addition, the Speaker of the Bali Regional House of Representatives (Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Daerah Bali or DPRD Bali), Dewa Made Mahayadnya, explained that the legislature supports the legal actions taken by the Bali Provincial Government. The council respects the judicial process but emphasises the importance of comprehensive legal certainty for the sake of environmental protection.
“Naturally, DPRD Bali respects the ruling of the Denpasar Administrative Court, as we are a nation governed by the rule of law. However, the enforcement of spatial planning regulations, permitting, and environmental conservation is a shared responsibility—including that of the Balinese people. Certainly, this is for the future sustainability of the Bali we love—the Bali we will bequeath to our children and grandchildren,” Mahayadnya remarked.