US presidential candidate and billionaire Donald Trump is in bed with MNC Group. What could happen to Indonesia relations if he slips into the Oval Office?
We would like to preface this piece by saying that the US Republican presidential candidate and billionaire blowhard Donald Trump probably will not become president. Even if he did somehow manage to leave a mud track all the way to the White House - and get tiny disproportionately her hands on the nuclear codes - the US government is set up so that it would be rendered powerless over most of his outrageous ideas. Build a wall at the border and make Mexico pay for her keep "rapists" out? Of course, Donald, good luck for this bill by Congress.
With this in mind, consider the imaginary scenario of what could happen in Indonesia if Donald Trump mad somehow the majority of Americans and insults his way to the Oval Office in November.
Under a disjointed radical conservative agenda, and Frankenstein in any way "to make America great again," Donald Trump called for a "full and complete stop Muslims entering the States United." In the final Republican debate, Trump said. "They will not come to this country if I'm president" in his mind (somewhere under the four-legged creature above his head), Trump believes that it would the response to terrorism.
Naturally, anti-Trump sentiment and chest-thumping arose Muslim voices the world. Indonesia has a population of 250 million, the vast majority of them are Muslims and Jakarta has its fair share of rabbling recent months. in terms of business and politics, however, Indonesia has forged close ties with the United States on many fronts, and a circus phenomenon a president is unlikely to change.
Despite proposals Islamophobic policies, Trump himself has business interests in Indonesia. Without batting an eye to this fact in his campaign, pimping tycoon is actually pulling in millions of business transactions in countries where Islam is the main religion, including the UAE, Azerbaijan and Turkey. Trump owns the golf resorts in Dubai, in partnership with prestigious real estate development company DAMAC Properties Crescent. The dollar value of these stations has not been made public.
Another Trump's assets is a luxury hotel in Baku, Azerbaijan, located in the Caspian Sea. Trump clocks income to US $ 2.5 million for "management fees" on it. In Istanbul, Turkey, there is a Trump Towers, a building of 40 floors full of residential suites for rich people. While Trump does not have the development up, the owners have allowed his name by paying an annual fee of $ 1 million to US $ 5.
In Indonesia, the Trump Hotel Collection will soon open in Lido, West Java and Bali, despite two petitions circulating calling for a ban Trump and his empire to do business in country.
The idea of these petitions is the nation with the largest Muslim population in the world should somehow take a look approach for an eye, and slap a ban Trump himself. A taste of your own medicine, Donald? Both petitions - set up anonymously on the web - urge Indonesian President Jokowi expel the billionaire and his archipelago companies. Although this concept is entertaining, these petitions are unlikely to give real results, having received less than 47,000 signatures since December 2015.
In Indonesia, Trump is partnering with PT Media Nusantara Citra (MNC) Group , controlled by fellow billionaire Hary Tanoesoedibjo.
Lido Resort
In Bali, Trump will open a six-star hotel built on a cliff overlooking the temple of Tanah Lot, one of Bali on most iconic tourist destination. In Lido, Bogor, the Trump resort will be completed in early 2019. It covers 700 hectares and will consist of three elements: a wing of hospitality, a golf course and a theme park. The theme park is set to use another American company specializing in entertainment. Other Trump companies in Indonesia include a six-star luxury resort, a signature 18-hole Ernie Els championship golf, a country club, a wellness destination spa, and upscale residential villas.
Vice President MNC Land Development Affairs Ivan Casadevall said recently The Jakarta Post that the golf course is already in the development phase and should be operational by end of 2016. the country club to become operational in 2017, in line with the unveiling of a new toll road Bogor-Ciawi-Sukabumi, also developed by MNC. Other villas in the hotel and residential areas affiliated with the Trump name will begin in 2018, are expected to become commercially operational in early 2019.
Trump would just act as a mark of the operator of these properties, then they would be 100 percent developed and owned by MNC Group. The Indonesian conglomerate acquired Lido Resort in Rp.1.4 trillion ($ 97.8 million US) deal from Charlton group based in British Virgin Islands Holdings Ltd. He paid about rp.1 trillion (US $ 74.6 million) to acquire the Bali resort.
An official signing between Donald Trump and Hary Tanoesoedibjo took place in New York August 14, 2015. "I am personally very happy to bring the Trump brand in Indonesia. The personal involvement of the Trump family proven success globally are exposed to Bali raising expectations for luxury and excellence, "said Tanoesoedibjo in a statement.
Even with the knowledge that Trump is running for president and throwing around what can be construed as anti-Islamic declarations, MNC Group remains confident about doing business with Trump.
"business is business. The involvement of a broader Indonesia, we need to see further, "General Secretary of MNC Group Syafriel Nasution recently told Reuters.
Ari Kuncoro, Dean of the Faculty of Economics at the University Indonesia, also refers to the maxim that "business is business" when asked about the Trump companies in Indonesia, but takes a slightly different position.
"Just change the company name and throw the word" Trump "of the title. Management can also say that Donald Trump was released from all businesses, but they will be carried on schedule. business is business, I think nothing [would] change, "said Kuncoro.
If Trump became president (and pressed on her Muslim prohibition), it is conceivable that his business dealings in Indonesia suffer. Regardless, in the nightmarish universe where Trump change America into a dystopian society at night, it is unlikely that Indonesia fully closed in the US on the international trade agenda. the country is more of $ 972 million annual export market for the archipelago.
"what Donald Trump repeated in his campaign is how to put the United States in a protectionist regime like what passed in the 1920s, "says Kuncoro. "If he directs the administration of this policy, not only Indonesia-US relations, but relations of all countries with the United States radically change." He added that the list of several economic consultants Trump as a " risk factor "in their projections for the American economy.
Meanwhile, Imaduddin Abdullah, a researcher at the Jakarta Institute for the development of economy and Finance, believes something exciting could happen in terms of economic cooperation between governments if Trump became president.
"the company will always get a positive response as long as the company provides great benefits to its partner in Indonesia. Especially if the company is not a final product. Customers are generally concerned about the final product of Trump. For example, in Lido, perhaps there will be a small protest against the development of the resort of people around there. But that's all going to happen, "said Abdullah.