Trump’s Indonesian business partner eyeing presidency

Donald Trump’s Indonesian business partner has revealed he may follow the example of the brash US billionaire and run for president, a report said Monday. Hary Tanoesoedibjo, who is building two Trump Organisation projects, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation he was considering becoming a candidate in Indonesia’s 2019 presidential elections for the sake of the country. If Tanoesoedibjo were to be successful, it could mean there are two world leaders who have been business partners, raising fresh concerns about potential conflicts of interest related to Trump’s business empire. In Indonesia, Tanoesoedibjo is working on a Trump project outside Jakarta and one on the resort island of Bali, with both in the early stages. The project close to Jakarta is a 1,700-acre development that includes a luxury hotel, a golf course, a country club and villas, according to the Trump Hotels website. The Bali resort will be built on a clifftop overlooking a famous Hindu temple. In an earlier interview with the New York Times, Tanoesoedibjo insisted he did not believe the projects represented a conflict of interest for the president-elect. “His family and children have the freedom to do business as long as it is arm’s length and unrelated to the president’s position,” he said. The businessman, whose interests include media company MNC Group, said he has access to Trump although his day-to-day contact is mostly with the children. Tanoesoedibjo has long had political ambitions. He made an unsuccessful attempt to win nomination as a vice-presidential candidate for 2014 elections and has now started his own party, United Indonesia.