"How could it be allowed to drink beer but not arak?," Bali's governor Wayan Koster a parliamentary hearing.
"The drinks we own cannot be used but the ones coming from [foreign brands] can. How could that be?"
Arak, which is distilled from rice or coconut palm, is a traditional Balinese drink containing up to 50 per cent alcohol. It is typically served as a drink in local community as well as part of various traditional ceremonies.
However, the development of this beverage is hampered by a presidential decree (Perpres) which states that the alcoholic beverage industry is included in a DNI category - a list of businesses in which large investment is prohibited in Indonesia.
The DNI categorisations are based on the criteria including health, morals, culture, environment, national defense and security, and other national interests.
But it appears that Mr. Koster seems serious about this idea. It was reported that his office is in the to the Minister of Industry Airlangga Hartarto to revise the presidential decree (Perpres) relating to the DNI.
"I will legalise arak. How is it that we are allowed to import alcoholic beverages but arak is not allowed to operate here? Where is this logic of regulation coming from? I think the one who compiled this is wrong. So we just want to legalise it," said Mr Koster.
Head of Bali's Industry and Trade Agency that the governor wants to be able to develop arak drinks to elevate and export local products.
Previously, a similar idea of exporting Balinese arak to the world was also conveyed by one of the founders of Balabec (Bali Local Alcoholic Beverage Control), Ketut Darmayasa.
"We want Bali's arak to be the seventh spirit," he said of his ambition. "In the world there are now 6 spirits, namely, whiskey, vodka, rum, gin, brandy, and tequila. Why does Bali - which is a world destination - not have a drink mascot?"
Is it safe to consume arak?
Without regulated production processed, arak, which sells illegally for around Rp. 100,000 (AUD$10), frequently contains .
Methanol is incidentally produced during the fermentation process that is carried out to produce ethanol when the distilling temperatures exceed a certain limit and can cause serious injury if consumed in large quantities.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) warns tourists, especially those visiting Bali and Lombok, not to consume contaminated alcoholic beverages, because they are at risk of illness or death.
"Consider the risks when drinking alcoholic beverages, particularly cocktails and drinks made with spirits," reads a warning on the DFAT website. "Drink only at reputable licensed premises. Avoid home-made alcoholic drinks. Labels on bottles aren't always accurate."
It was reported that in September 2011, a New Zealand rugby player who had lived in Perth named Michael Denton after drinking cocktails containing methanol.
A Newcastle teenager Jackson Tuckwell due to poisoning while celebrating Schoolies in Bali in 2014.
Bali Governor Wayan Koster said that he if the proposed revised decree is not approved by the President.
He believes that the processing of arak in Bali is good, although it has not been facilitated by the government.
"If this is facilitated by better processing technology, I think the quality will be even better," said Mr Koster.
