DENPASAR, BALINEWS — Nanda Novita, a female gas station attendant in Bali whose confrontation with Bali Governor Wayan Koster went viral on social media, says she does not regret her emotional outburst, explaining that exhaustion from working amid long fuel queues prompted her reaction.
Speaking to reporters in Denpasar on Monday, October 19, 2026, Nanda, who is from Padangsambian, West Denpasar, said she and her colleagues were physically exhausted after serving customers during extended operating hours as fuel queues continued for several days.
“At that time, we were already exhausted. It was 1 a.m., and the queues still had not stopped. Suddenly, Mr. Koster arrived and told us to keep the station open 24 hours. We were tired, sir. Some of our colleagues were already ill. That is why those words came out,” Nanda said.
She explained that the prolonged queues and demanding working conditions had made it increasingly difficult for staff to cope with the situation.
Nanda also described Koster’s response during the confrontation, saying the governor did not engage in an extended argument. According to her account, he simply instructed the staff to continue operating the station around the clock.
“He did not argue with us. He only said, ‘Be quiet.’ After that, there were no further words,” she said.
Following the incident, Nanda and her colleagues resumed serving customers as usual. She said that during the week of heavy queues, employees who worked beyond their regular shifts received overtime payments. However, she maintained that the additional compensation did not adequately reflect the physical exhaustion they experienced.
Despite the heated exchange, Nanda said she held no grudge against Koster. She also expressed her willingness to forgive and said she did not want the incident to become a prolonged dispute.
Nanda and several of her colleagues were also reportedly invited to attend an event during Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Bahlil Lahadalia’s visit to the Pesanggaran fuel depot in Denpasar.
However, it remains unclear whether their attendance was intended to facilitate mediation, recognize their efforts, or serve another purpose. No further details about the purpose of the invitation were provided in the account.
The incident occurred on Wednesday night, October 14, 2026, when Koster visited gas station 54.801.48 on Jalan Diponegoro in Denpasar. A video circulated widely on social media showing a female employee expressing her frustration in an emotional exchange with the governor over working conditions amid the fuel queues.
The footage attracted public attention and sparked discussion about gas station services, employees’ working conditions, and the handling of fuel distribution disruptions in Bali.
Nanda’s account has brought attention to the pressures faced by gas station workers required to serve large numbers of customers during periods of unusually high demand. Her remarks highlighted the physical strain associated with extended working hours and the challenges employees faced while trying to maintain services.
As of the time of writing, no further information was available regarding possible mediation between Nanda and Koster or any specific follow-up measures involving the employees who took part in the incident.
