BALINEWSID.COM, DENPASAR – The controversy surrounding access for Hindu worshippers to temples located within the PT Bali Turtle Island Development (BTID) project area in Serangan has once again drawn public attention. The issue became one of the key topics discussed during a forum organized by the Bali chapter of the Indonesian Hindu Dharma Council (PHDI) at the PHDI Hall in Denpasar on Thursday (June 25, 2026).

The forum brought together Hindu priests (Sulinggih), traditional leaders, academics, government officials, members of the Bali Provincial Legislative Council (DPRD), and community representatives. The meeting was held in response to growing public concerns over access to places of worship, the existence of temples, and the legal status of pelaba pura (temple customary land) located within the BTID development area.

Speaking at the forum, Chairman of the Bali Provincial DPRD’s Special Committee on Spatial Planning and Public Assets (Pansus TRAP), Dr. (C) I Made Supartha, S.H., M.H., expressed concern over issues arising from investment activities in the area, stressing that they require comprehensive evaluation.

According to Supartha, investment is essential for economic development, but it must not come at the expense of Bali’s cultural heritage, sacred sites, and the rights of the Hindu community to perform religious worship.

“We need to re-evaluate the activities carried out by investors. Every investor naturally seeks profit, but Bali must also be protected. If we fail to safeguard it together, it is the Balinese people who will ultimately suffer,” Supartha said.

He highlighted what he described as a significant concern regarding temples and religious assets located within land designated under Building Use Rights (Hak Guna Bangunan or HGB), saying the matter deserves serious legal and policy review.

“The facts we see today indicate several issues that require deeper examination. Imagine temples being located within HGB areas. This should concern all of us. If we do not evaluate and protect them now, when will we?” he asked.

Supartha emphasized that safeguarding Bali’s religious assets and public spaces cannot be accomplished by a single institution. Instead, he called for collaboration among religious leaders, academics, customary communities, the provincial government, and the legislature.

He also welcomed the growing support for the evaluation of spatial planning and public assets, noting that concerns once discussed mainly within the DPRD special committee are now shared by broader segments of Balinese society.

“Today we are joined by Bali’s religious leaders, government representatives, legislators, PHDI, academics, and historians. This reflects a stronger collective commitment to protecting Bali. What was once an isolated effort has now become a united movement to safeguard the interests of the Balinese people,” he said.

The PHDI forum is expected to produce concrete recommendations on protecting temples and temple lands, ensuring unrestricted access for Hindu worshippers, and improving spatial planning while respecting Bali’s cultural, customary, and spiritual values.

For Supartha, the Serangan issue extends beyond investment and physical development. It also concerns Bali’s identity, history, and the rights of its people to preserve their ancestral heritage.

“Our guiding principle is to protect Bali and its people. That must remain the foundation of every policy and every decision regarding the management of this area in the future,” he concluded.