Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono knew exactly how to win over Wahid, a businessman in the city of Padang on the island of Sumatra, who asked at a presidential ­election campaign rally why “small” people like him never win government tenders.

The imposing president and former general approached the diminutive entrepreneur, put his arm around his shoulders and looked him in the eye, to startled giggles from the audience at the perceived unpresidential behaviour.