In the space of three months, former Indonesia President Dr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono was seen at Takashimaya's Kinokuniya Singapore bookstore twice.

Which probably means that there is a higher probability of seeing the former Indonesia President at our local bookstore than our local politicians.

According to website Global Indonesian Voices (GIV), SBY was accompanied by five presidential security guards (Paspampres), and representatives from the Indonesian Embassy. 

Is SBY in Singapore just to catch up on his reading?

Not really.

SBY is here to attend a two-day Responsible Business Forum on Sustainable Development.

He was the keynote speaker this morning:

@SBYudoyono calls on government to demonstrate political will for #sustainability to send strong signals to the biz community #RBFSingapore

— Responsible Business (@Responsible_Biz) November 26, 2014

@SBYyudoyono: "I believe we can win this race. We can achieve a sustainable future. Ambitious green growth is essential". #RBFSingapore

— Responsible Business (@Responsible_Biz) November 26, 2014

SBY calls on business to work with suppliers, to develop new thinking, to reduce waste. We must act now to build #prosperity #RBFSingapore

— Responsible Business (@Responsible_Biz) November 26, 2014

Private citizen SBY continues to have a packed schedule as he made a courtesy call on President Tony Tan at the Istana yesterday.

But the most important question to many readers: What books were SBY reading at Kinokuniya?

GIV observed that "SBY was seen browsing through a wide variety of books such as managerial leadership and current affairs at the magazine section".

A Mothership.sg staff noticed that SBY was browsing Change, a book that guides one to embark in lasting personal transformation.

Another photo showed that SBY browsing a book on the Salim Group, the owners of the well-known Indo-mie instant noodles.

Source

This recently published tome featured how "the Salim Group remerged from near bankruptcy to a vast conglomerate".

Source: ISEAS

SBY made the transition from general to politician with great success, as he led Indonesia as President from 2004-2014.

Is SBY embarking on a third personal transformation, from general to President to billionaire businessman?

Let's ask him when he visits Kinokuniya Singapore again.

Related articles:

Indonesian President SBY catching up on current affairs at Kinokuniya Singapore

The buzz at Kinokuniya shows that S’poreans have not fallen out of love with books

Photo by Medha Lim.

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