Donald Trump's Indonesian business partner has confirmed he wants to follow in the footsteps of his fellow billionaire and run for president.

"If there is no-one I can believe who can fix the problems of the country, I may try to run for president," Hary Tanoesoedibjo told the ABC.

"Not for myself, for the country," added the media mogul and property developer, who is always referred to as Hary Tanoe. He already has his own political party.

"We need a leader with integrity who can bring a solution for the country," he said.

Mr Tanoe's political ambitions mean there is a potential for two world leaders to also be business partners — creating a minefield of potential conflicts of interest.

Mr Tanoe is building two Trump projects — one in Bali and the other in the hills outside Jakarta.

The ABC has visited the Jakarta project which includes a Trump-branded hotel, 300 villas, a Trump country club and an 18-hole Ernie Els-designed golf course that will carry Trump's name.

The earthworks on the golf course have finished and planting of grass on the fairways has begun. The hotel and villa construction has not yet started, but the entire project should be finished inside Mr Trump's first term in office.

The business link with Mr Trump has given Mr Tanoe the ability to contact the incoming US president — something that plenty of world leaders struggled with.

"I have access to him of course, because we are in cooperation, but I have to limit the cooperation and interaction," he said.

Day-to-day contact is mostly with the adult Trump children.

"The three of them. Each of them has different roles. Don junior has responsibility for the overall project, Eric the design and golf, and Ivanka more of detail — the fit-out of the hotel."

It is part of a billion-dollar project that will eventually include a Disneyland-style theme park.

Trump to meet with controversial politicians

Mr Tanoe's Christian faith and ethnicity could impact his political ambitions. ( Supplied: Harry Tanoe )

The Trump-Tanoe link already has the potential to create problems for Mr Trump.

Mr Tanoe has already arranged for two controversial Indonesian politicians to meet with Mr Trump: Setya Novanto, who was at the centre of a $US4 billion corruption scandal in Indonesia, and Fadli Zon, who is close to the Indonesian hardliners who want Jakarta's Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, known by his nickname Ahok, jailed.

Mr Zon has met with the racist hardliner cleric Habib Rizieq, and has addressed one of the huge anti-Ahok rallies.

Mr Tanoe said he was not concerned about Mr Zon.

"He's a politician, so, but knowing him, he's very neutral. He's very moderate. Being a politician you have to make manoeuvers for your political position. It's very normal."

One of the factors holding back Mr Tanoe's political ambitions is his ethnicity — like Jakarta's Governor he is from an Indonesian Chinese background, and he is a Christian.

There is an ugly mood in Indonesia right now against both minorities.

The mood is being fuelled by Ahok's blasphemy trial.

Mr Tanoe is optimistic, despite the two huge anti-Ahok protests. There were an estimated half-a-million people at the second rally, on December 2.

"If the president, Jokowi, responded quickly enough we would not have seen the December 2 protest," said Mr Tanoe.

"The issue is more with President Jokowi. He has to show his leadership is firm enough to make people calm down.

"Indonesia is ready for whoever background for leadership [sic]. The majority of the people are more realistic. They want to see a leader who can bring solutions."