The Obama family is headed to Bali on Friday for vacation before heading to Yogyakarta and Jakarta, says Bali Governor Made Mangku Pastika, despite no available official confirmation from police or military.
Obama is scheduled to open the 4th Indonesian Diaspora Congress in Jakarta. He’s also been invited by Indonesian President Joko Widodo to stop by beforehand at Bogor Palace—where unlike the arrival of Saudi Arabian King Salman, the place must certainly be keeping its statues bare.
“There is information that (Obama) will come on June 23, 2017 in the afternoon, for holiday (in Bali),” Pastika said in Denpasar on Wednesday, as quoted by Detik.
The former American president is rumored to be accompanied by his wife Michelle and two daughters, Malia and Sasha, along with other family members.
Separately, Bali Police Chief Insp. Gen. Petrus R Golose could not confirm the upcoming arrival of Barack Obama and his family to Bali, explaining that no security requests had been submitted to police.
“There is no special security request, for tourist purposes,” Golose added.
Likewise, Bali Police spokesman Hengky Widjaja previously said on June 16 that news has been received of the Obama family’s trip, but no official notice has been given to police.
Once given notice, police would hold a joint meeting with military to prepare, says Widjaja.
Ninth regional military command (Kodam IX) Udayana commander Maj. Gen.Komarudin Simanjuntak said his troops would be ready to give Obama VVIP security in Bali, but didn’t yet have a confirmation about what security detailing would be needed.
“We’ve just learned that the dates are June 23-28, 2017, but we do not know if in Nusa Dua or Kuta or Gianyar.
Well, we know for sure where the president won’t be staying (even if it were already open): current President Donald Trump’s impending and highly controversial six-star project in Tanah Lot.
Prior to his pending Indonesia trip, the former president has taken some much needed vacay time after handing the reins over to President Trump. From kitesurfing in the Virgin Islands with Richard Branson to visiting his home state of Hawaii to kicking it with Oprah, Tom Hanks, and Bruce Springsteen on David Gefen’s yacht—and other trips in between—Obama has pretty much reached full-fledged celebrity status.
Overshadowed by Obama’s trip is the Malaysian Prime Minister’s Bali holiday. PM Najib Razak will be taking his family from June 26-30 2017 to Bali and will be staying at the St. Regis in Nusa Dua, according to reports.
