KUALA LUMPUR - WHEN Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak met visiting Indonesian reporters ahead of his official visit to Jakarta in April, he singled out businessman Peter Sondakh.

Najib's inner circle Peter Sondakh Mr Sondakh advises Mr Najib on Indonesia. He came into contact with Mr Najib when he was negotiating to sell a controlling interest in his telecommunications group, Excelcomindo Pratama, to Malaysia's national telecommunications company Telekom Malaysia in 2004. ... more The tight nexus The tight nexus of business and politics has long been a key feature of corporate Malaysia and analysts say that Mr 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.

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 Mr 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 Mr 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 Datuk Seri Najib was sworn in as Malaysia's sixth Prime Minister in April. He was among a select few private individuals invited to the event.

Mr 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 Mr 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 Nazir Razak, for example, is an urbane and influential banker who heads regional financial group CIMB.

Datuk Seri Nazir is highly regarded by local and foreign businessmen and is considered to be the Premier's most influential adviser on economic and financial matters.

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

But businessmen like Mr 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.