Indonesia to review China’s belt and road projects if Prabowo beats Widodo in presidential election
- US$4.5 billion high-speed railway between Jakarta and Bandung – and other plans – will come in for a rethink if the former general wins next year’s vote, says his brother, citing similar move by Malaysia’s Mahathir Mohamad
“Indonesia and China have a good relationship, but I think there are certain [belt and road] projects that we want to look at,” Hashim Djojohadikusumo said of China’s ambitious infrastructure investment plan, after a recent media briefing for foreign correspondents. “I’m sure there are some projects that are very good, and I’m sure some projects are not necessary.”
Djojohadikusumo, a wealthy businessman, is helping to fund his older brother’s bid to lead Southeast Asia’s biggest economy, just like he did in 2014, when Prabowo lost to current president Joko Widodo.
The 64-year-old, who serves as director of media and communications for Prabowo and his running mate, entrepreneur Sandiaga Uno, said one project that would be reviewed was the US$4.5 billion high-speed railway currently being built to connect Jakarta and the city of Bandung, about 150km away. The railway is being funded by loans from China Development Bank.
“I think it’s too expensive … we’re talking about a US$4 billion investment for a [less than] 200km railway which [goes] from the suburbs of Jakarta to the suburbs of Bandung,” said Djojohadikusumo, whose net worth in 2012 was estimated by Forbes to be US$850 million.