Kompas reports that dozens of drivers who are members of the Bali Tourism Driver Struggle Forum (Bali Tourism Driver Struggle Forum) visited the Bali Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) in Central Denpasar on Monday, 03 August 2026.
The drivers visited the legislators to seek clarification on the status of the Bali Regional Regulation (Perda) on Special Tourism Rental Transport (ASKP), which apparently has not secured ratification from the central government.
At issue are the Bali ASKP bylaws regulating application-based tourism transport, covering requirements that online drivers in Bali must possess a Bali ID card (KTP), use only vehicles with “DK” license plates, accept tariff standardization, and comply with other legal protections for local drivers.
The bylaws were approved and passed by the Bali DPRD in October 2025. The FPDPB considers the ASKP bylaws crucial for drivers and as a legal foundation for organizing tourism transport in Bali. The pending regulations are also expected to prevent conflicts between drivers and foster more orderly tourism transport management.
An FPDPB representative, Gede Ardana, urged the Bali DPRD to continue seeking an urgent solution should the central government continue to withhold its approval of specific provisions in the bylaw, particularly those that limit opportunities for non-Balinese to work as online drivers.
Ardana argues that the drivers’ efforts over the past two years must not end without a successful resolution. He also called on the Bali DPRD to persist in advocating for the drivers’ interests to the central government. “What we have fought for amounts to nothing—especially since the regional government had already allocated the budget. We want to avoid reaching conclusions today on matters that could be revisited. There ought to be some autonomy for Bali, so that it doesn’t just get scrapped like that,” he stated.
Ardana stated that if the central government’s objection concerns the requirement for drivers to hold a Bali ID card (KTP), his side remains open to discussing alternatives to this requirement. According to Ardana, the drivers are not insisting that every part of the new regulations be approved; Bali’s drivers are open to adjustments that balance Bali’s interests with those of the central government. For instance, “instead of the ID card requirement, perhaps a certification system could be chosen. Bali’s objectives could be accommodated at 60 percent, with the central government at 40 percent. It doesn’t have to be 100 percent agreement,” he added.
Jakarta had previously informed the drivers that approximately 95 percent of the provisions in the ASKP Regional Regulation were ready for implementation. Consequently, they questioned why the central government is now seemingly withholding approval.
Ngurah Satria Wardana, Head of the Legal Bureau at the Bali Provincial Secretariat, denied any concealment of information regarding the review process for the ASKP regulation. He explained that the regulation’s deliberation must adhere to applicable rules and procedures, including a review process conducted by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
”Let there be no dishonesty between us. Regulations bind the government. I am disappointed too—not just you. Everything follows rules and processes; we cannot simply force our will,” Wardana stated.
Wardana noted that specific provisions regarding ASKP were removed during the review process. “There was absolutely no concealment,” he asserted. He urged the drivers and the Bali Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) to collaborate on finding a solution that complies with central government regulations.
”We should now seek a solution that aligns with the regulations. We, too, have felt the impact of this two-year struggle. We will try to find a solution. Chapter 4, which regulated ASKP, was removed,” Wardana continued.
Moving forward, Wardana plans to invite the Ministry of Transportation and the Ministry of Home Affairs to provide direct explanations regarding the provisions that Jakarta removed. He said the proposed meeting could also serve as a forum for drivers to convey their aspirations directly to the central government.
Related Links
Bali Online Drivers Threaten Protests if New Licensing System is Not Urgently Activated
Online Transport to be Limited to Balinese Drivers with DK Vehicles
Is Bali-KTP Requirement for Online Drivers Constitutional?
Bali Drivers Seek to Limit Online Competition
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