Bali locals declared hostilities against the Trump International Hotel chain if it breaks boundaries and erect a Trump Tower against local building laws. Bali authorities said they would demolish unapproved towers without any discussion.
According to Travel and Leisure, Ida Bagus Wiratmaja, Bali Development and Planning Agency Head, said they would stop any unapproved developments of the Trump International Hotel if the company will not abide by local building laws. The local laws warn that all structures should not stand higher than coconut trees; they could only be 50 feet and below or it would "anger the gods."
A legend in Bali said that its gods would be angered if such structures are built past the height of its coconut palms. The new Trump project, touted as a tower, would stand beside a Hindu temple, which the local district authorities warn the Trump contractor to mandatorily obey the "special rules for the temple and temple area."
According to Nine Australia's "Elsewhere", local religious leader Made Rumawa said whatever the foreign contractors would build "must not deviate from our Hindu culture." Rumawa added that contractors "should not be blind and walk in the darkness."
MNC, the contractor in charge of the Trump International Hotels project, said it would be against their objective to erect the Trump Tower without clearance from the local authorities. The moniker of a "Trump Tower" and its internationally-known characteristic of great heights, are alerting local authorities and religious locals.
MNC's project would replace an abandoned and to-be-renovated property owned by Hary Tonoesoedibjo and purchased by the Trump International Hotels. The entire project will cost about $300 million, where the property owner, a partner of Donald Trump himself, would oversee the entire development and foreseeable operation.
The local contractor's challenge is making everything fit together because the hotel would provide luxury amenities such as a golf course. Bali locals said MNC representatives have approached several farm owners to purchase their farmland but most refused to sell their assets.
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