Donald Trump’s Indonesian business partner, a billionaire developer and media tycoon, has announced that he may run for president within the 2019 Indonesian elections.
“If there is no one who can solve the country’s problems, I might try to run for president,” Hary Tanoesoedibjo told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
“Not for myself, for the country,” he said, adding that the nation of about 260 million people needed “an honest leader who can bring a solution to the country.”
Known locally as Hary Tanoe, the tycoon is constructing two of Trump’s investments – a six-star, 100-hectare luxury resort on the Bali coast and a resort near Jakarta with a championship golf course designed by former world leader Ernie Els. The resort can have 300 villas and can be adjoining to a theme park. Both projects are expected to be accomplished while Trump is in office.
If there isn’t a one I can trust to resolve the country’s problems, I could attempt to run for president
Unlike Trump, the 50-year-old had already delved deeply into politics before running for president. In 2014, Tanoe made an unsuccessful try and win the vice presidential nomination and has since founded his own political party, United Indonesia, using Twitter and appearances on his television stations as a platform.
His company, Global Mediacom, also referred to as MNC Group, saw its stock price rise significantly after Trump won the November election.
Tanoe said he has “access” to Trump, even though it is restricted and most of his contacts about joint events are with the president-elect’s adult children; Donald Jr, Eric and Ivanka.
“Each of them plays a different role. Don Jr. is responsible for the entire project, Eric for the design and golf, and Ivanka for the details – for the hotel equipment,” he said.
The latest president’s extensive foreign business interests have been considered a possible conflict of interest, especially if the ventures are linked to businessmen with aspirations to power.
During the last Indonesian elections, Tanoe supported former general Prabowo Subianto, who then lost to Joko Widodo, meaning that Trump’s largest financial stake in Indonesia is with a political opponent of the country’s leader.
Tanoe has already arranged a gathering between two controversial Indonesian politicians and Trump. The first was Setya Novanto, the Speaker of the House of Representatives who found himself at the middle of a $4 billion corruption scandal in Indonesia. He denies all allegations.
The second was Deputy Speaker Fadli Zon, near Indonesian religious hardliners who’re calling for the Jakarta governor to be convicted of blasphemy.
However, Tanoe, also a Christian from Indonesia, said the country was ready for a pacesetter of any origin. “Most people are more realistic. They want to see a leader who can bring solutions,” he said.
He blamed the president, referred to as Jokowi, for not reacting “quickly enough” to quell protests within the capital wherein about half one million people gathered against Ahok on December 2.
“The problem is more about President Jokowi. He needs to point out that his leadership is decisive enough to calm people down.
This article appeared within the print edition of the South China Morning Post as: Trump’s partner in Jakarta is considering running for president
