APSN | Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo worth $160 million

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Indonesian presidential candidate Prabowo worth $160 million

Sydney Morning Herald - July 1, 2014

Direct elections are un-Indonesian: Prabowo – Jakarta Globe. July 1, 2014
It's official: SBY backs Prabowo – Jakarta Post. July 1, 2014
Indonesian presidential election offers Suharto family political comeback – Sydney Morning Herald. June 30, 2014
Be prepared for active solidarity with the Indonesian people – Red Flag Newspaper. June 29, 2014
Prabowo victory bad for business: Global bankers – Jakarta Post. June 28, 2014

Michael Bachelard, Jakarta – Everybody involved in the Indonesian presidential election is a multimillionaire, but ex-military strongman Prabowo Subianto is by far the richest.

Figures released in Jakarta yesterday show that Prabowo has amassed a fortune worth $160 million from international business dealings since he was ejected from the military in 1998.

In a ceremony at the General Elections Commission yesterday, Prabowo said he had shares in 26 companies, three farms, eight cars worth $130,000 plus arts and antiques worth about $290,000. In his 2009 wealth report, officials reported he also owned 90 horses.

His opponent, Jakarta Governor Joko Widodo, a furniture manufacturer before entering politics, is worth a fraction of that amount, at about $2.5 million. He admitted to 24 pieces of land or buildings, 12 cars, and $35,000 worth of jewellery.

The release of wealth reports on candidates prior to an election is an attempt to provide a baseline of information, both to increase transparency and reduce the temptation for corruption in a country where serving in office can be a reliable way of stealing money from the public.

The vice-presidential candidates also read out reports confirming that they too were very well heeled. Jokowi's running mate, businessman and politician Jusuf Kalla, is worth $42 million and has shares in in 12 companies. Prabowo's deputy, Hatta Rajasa, is worth about $2.7 million.

The figures show Prabowo's wealth has not taken an appreciable hit despite more than a decade of constant campaigning for the presidency. This is his third and most prospective tilt for the top job, which is being vacated in October by incumbent Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. In 2009 he admitted to the virtually identical figure for his total wealth.

The election will be held next Wednesday. Polls agree that the gap between the two candidates – which was in double figures three months ago – is now virtually zero, and the election too close to call.

Source: http://www.smh.com.au/world/indonesian-presidential-candidate-prabowo-worth-160m-20140701-zssl2.html.