As reported by BeritaBali.com, a member of the Regional Representative Council (DPD) from Bali, Shri I Gusti Ngurah Arya Wedakarna Mahendradatta Wedasteraputra Suyasa, has expressed his support for the controversial construction of a glass elevator at popular Kelingking Beach on Nusa Penida.
Arya Wedakarna considers the elevator’s presence as crucial for tourist safety and highlighted the seeming incongruity of the project’s closure by the Special Committee for Spatial Planning, Assets, and Licensing (Pansus TRAP) of the Regional Legislative Council (DPRD) and the Bali Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), which was done after construction was nearly complete.
”In my opinion, the Kelingking glass elevator problem suffers from several irregularities. This has been the official finding of the Bali Regional Representative Council (DPD) Committee I on Legal Affairs, which we have conveyed to the Attorney General’s Office. The first ‘oddity’ is that the project is almost complete, with visualizations around 70% complete, yet it’s only now being questioned,” he said on Saturday, 31 January 2026.
According to Arya Wedakarna, the cancellation of the project in the middle of the busy tourist area raises significant questions, given that construction has been underway for months and heavy materials have already been delivered to the site.
”Nusa Penida is a small island. It’s highly unlikely that village officials, sub-district officials, the Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), and even the Klungkung Regency Government were unaware of the shipment of heavy materials, including iron, steel, and heavy equipment, that had been underway for months. Logically, it’s impossible for officials at the port or village to be unaware, especially since Kelingking is a very busy area,” he stated.
”I see a clear element of negligence on the part of the regional head. Why did everyone suddenly take action after the story finally went viral? The Prosecutor’s Office has the right to investigate from the outset if there was negligence. Officials who committed this negligence in monitoring the construction should be investigated by the Prosecutor’s Office, and not just blame the investors,” he added.
He also emphasized that any action to cancel or halt the project must have a clear and written legal basis to avoid creating new legal issues or damaging the investment climate in Bali.
According to Arya Wedakarna, the Bali Provincial Government and the Klungkung Regency seem to have failed to understand the direction of President Prabowo’s administration. At the central level, including the President and himself as a member of the Regional Representative Council (DPD), they have promoted the project abroad, such as in Beijing, China, to attract investors and boost economic growth in the region.
Commenting on the sudden suspension of the expensive outside lift project, the Senator commented: “This is embarrassing for us in the eyes of the international community. Moreover, according to the investor’s legal team’s report, there was no official letter or document stating that the project was stopped or sealed, even though any state action must have a legal foundation,” he said.
From a functional perspective, Arya Wedakarna believes the Kelingking glass elevator has strategic value for safety, particularly in expediting evacuation in the event of an accident on the steep cliff path.
”Personally, I agree with the village head and village leader in Nusa Penida who support this project. We must not resist change. This elevator is needed because accidents often occur on Kelingking; when tourists fall, evacuation in the ravine is time-consuming and labor-intensive. It would be a shame if the nearly completed structure were simply demolished,” he explained.
In supporting the glass elevator, Arya Wedakarna appreciates the Bali Regional People’s Representative Council’s (DPRD) efforts, through the Special Committee for Public Works and Public Housing (Pansus) on Public Works and Public Housing (TRAP), in regulating investors who violate regulations, provided that the entire regulatory process is carried out professionally and legally.
”I appreciate the work of the Bali DPRD through the Special Committee for Public Works and Public Housing (Pansus) on Public Works and Public Housing (TRAP), in regulating unscrupulous investors who build first and then report for permits, because that is indeed not good. However, I caution that such actions are vulnerable to lawsuits if they lack a strong legal basis,” he concluded.
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