15
Jul
09

Indonesian billionaire leads list of powerful economic players

From The Straits Times

KUALA LUMPUR, July 15 — When Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak met visiting Indonesian reporters ahead of his official visit to Jakarta in April, he singled out businessman Peter Sondakh.

The Indonesian billionaire’s investments in two large Malaysian hotels were a prime example of the close links between the two countries, he said.

Last month, Malaysia’s King conferred the prestigious title of Tan Sri on Sondakh. It was a rare honour for a foreign businessman who hardly has a public profile beyond his country.

It was not the first time Sondakh was visiting the palace. The controlling shareholder of the Rajawali Group, an Indonesian conglomerate with diverse interests ranging from cement to cigarettes, was also at the palace when Najib was sworn in as Malaysia’s sixth Prime Minister in April. He was among a select few private individuals invited to the event.

Sondakh’s growing prominence is stirring interest among Malaysia-watchers keeping tabs on additions to the ‘who’s who’ list of the country’s political elite.

The tight nexus of business and politics has long been a key feature of corporate Malaysia and analysts say that Najib’s takeover is set to usher in a new group of powerful economic players even as several already well-known ones gain greater prominence.

His younger brother Datuk Seri Nazir Razak, for example, is an urbane and influential banker who heads regional financial group CIMB.

Nazir is highly regarded by local and foreign businessmen and is considered to be the prime minister’s most influential adviser on economic and financial matters.

Many people close to Najib say that Defence Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi is often consulted when it comes to politics.

But businessmen like Sondakh, whose interests in Malaysia include the upmarket Sheraton Imperial Hotel in downtown Kuala Lumpur and the Westin Hotel in resort island Langkawi, are beginning to emerge on the national corporate radar screen.


2 Responses to “Indonesian billionaire leads list of powerful economic players”


  1. 1 mohtda Jul 15th, 2009 at 8:58 pm

    selamat sjastra, Keadilan yg kita tutut sebenar tdk adil, terlalu banyak perkara atau kes yg belum terjawab baik oleh mahkamah,kerajaan bn, polis . misalnya kes lingkam, attantuya, mata lebam,kes perak niza. Sebenar keadilan dalam perundangan yg ada d malaysia sangat2 meragukan. terlalu banyak perkara yg kerajaan bn campur tangan dlm kes2 keadilan di negara kita. Keadilan dan ketelusan akan hanya ada bila rakyat bertindak melalui undi atau cara revolusi seperti di indonesia. polis sudah macam umno punya,kaki tangan kerajaan umno punya ????????????????. Rakyat yg akan menentu segalanya dgn izin Allah.

    Reply

  2. 2 ulam batar Jul 16th, 2009 at 12:17 am

    ulam batar menengkah!!!!

    Apakah kegagalan kita berniaga di Indonesia tidak dijadikan pengajaran kepada Malaysia??

    May Bank tertipu dengan dalam Usaha menbeli Bank di Indonesia sehingga maybank kerugian!!angkara central bank of indonesia.

    Astro Juga kerugian di indonesia dengan menarik pelaburan di indonesia dengan kerugian mencecah lebih 500 juta. angkara salah pelaburan rakan kongsi dengan Lipo Group.

    Guthrie Group juga menhadapi permasalahn dengan perladangan mereka sehingga sekarang tidak dapat di Listed di bursa Indonesia atas sebab akta dan sebagainya. yang mana ladang mereka lebih besar dari Singapore.

    Pelaburan istana kelantan juga kerugian setelah usahasama JV dengan PT monohara Group kerugian rm jutaan.

    kebanyakan perniagaan gergasi malaysia menhadapi permasalahan di indonesia. akan tetapi ahli perniagaan Indonesia di beri carpet merah oleh Najib????. apa barang ini!!!!!

    Najib cukup lemah dalam meguruskan negara.

    Reply

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