BALINEWSID.COM, DENPASAR — Bali Governor Wayan Koster has clarified a video of him saying “shut up” that has resurfaced on social media, stressing that the footage was not recorded during a recent incident in September 2026.

Koster said the video was recorded in July 2025 when he was monitoring the government’s crackdown on illegal structures in the Bingin Beach area of Pecatu Village, South Kuta District, Badung.

He explained that the remark was made during the demolition of buildings constructed on state-owned land. At the time, authorities were removing a number of structures, including villas, restaurants and bars, which were considered to have violated applicable regulations.

Koster said he directed the words “shut up” at someone who questioned the fate of workers affected by the demolition while the government was focused on carrying out the enforcement operation.

“I said, ‘Shut up!’ We were thinking about the demolition, and he was already thinking about the workers. There would be time to think about the workers later,” Koster said after attending a Bali Regional House of Representatives (DPRD Bali) plenary session in Denpasar on Monday (Sept. 7, 2026).

Koster said the video was being circulated again without the full context of the incident, creating the impression that the exchange had taken place recently.

“That is what was played again yesterday. But the context was made [unclear],” he said.

Despite the renewed public attention, Koster said he had no problem with the video being circulated and left it to the public to form their own opinions.

“It’s okay. Let people judge it that way. I will remain patient. It actually makes me even more famous because it keeps going viral,” he said.

The video is linked to the government’s enforcement operation at Bingin Beach on July 21, 2025, when 48 buildings were demolished. Koster and then-Badung Regent I Wayan Adi Arnawa personally monitored the operation.

The 48 structures were targeted because they reportedly lacked the required permits and were built on government-owned land. The Badung administration had previously issued three written warnings before the enforcement action was carried out.

The old footage resurfaced more than a year after the incident, triggering renewed discussion on social media. Koster reiterated that the “shut up” remark was made during the Bingin Beach enforcement operation in July 2025 and was not related to any new incident in September 2026.