I Made Mangku Pastika, Bali’s Governor from 2008-2018, boldly questioning how Bali can truly consider itself a “paradise on earth” when the Island still has pockets of extreme poverty.
Citing the East Bali Regency of Karangasem as an example, Pastika challenges how Bali can be considered a paradise when many people live below the official standard of extreme poverty.
Quoted by NusaBali.com, Pastika said: “The Karangasem region is among the poorest in Bali, followed by Buleleng (North Bali). These regions must become an object of prime concern for Bali’s leaders on the Regency and Provincial levels.”
While Pastika acknowledges that poverty rates in Bali are lower than in other Indonesian provinces, the number of people counted among the poor is still significant. Pastika cited how Bali, with a population of 4.2 million people, 4% of that total, is classified as poor. Adding, “Around 200,000 people in Bali live below the poverty line. This is not right on an island often described as heaven.”
The 73-year-old former Bali Governor and Provincial Chief of Police made his views on poverty known to the press during a visit by candidates vying to win the coming election for Regent and Vice-Regent of Karangasem on Wednesday, 23 October 2024.
Mangku Pastika also critically questioned published data citing Bali’s low poverty and unemployment rates. While admitting that policymakers need data, these numbers do not reflect the actual conditions in the field. “Macro data is important, but we must look at the micro. When we go down to the field, to people’s homes, the conditions are still far from adequate, especially in Karangasem,” he said.
To move towards a solution to Bali’s poverty crisis, Mangku Pastika supports the establishment of the Agency for the Acceleration of Poverty Alleviation, which newly installed President Prabowo Subianto initiated. He hopes that this new institution, under Budiman Sudjatmiko’s leadership, will succeed in his new assignment. Pastika said he hopes that Karangasem’s new Regent and Vice-Regent will focus on the poor in Karangasem.
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