Banking and construction tycoon Tomy Winata has denied WikiLeaks allegations that he "relays funds" to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.

Tomy, the owner of Artha Graha Group, said his relationship with the president was no different to that of any citizen.

"If people say that I am close [to the president], this is true, constitutionally. [But] it's only a relationship between a citizen and a president. If I am summoned, I will obey. But it rarely happens," Tomy said in a statement published by news portals.

"I am trying to carry out my obligations as a child of the nation to develop my business. In accordance with President SBY's vision, I am trying to contribute to my country under the principles of pro-growth, pro-job, pro-poor and pro-environment," he said.

Tomy said that the WikiLeaks allegations originally published in Australian newspapers The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald were disturbing. "If the allegations were only about Tomy Winata and his family, it's not a problem. But this is about the nation," Tomy said.

The tycoon said he had decided to talk to the press on the issue because he feared the allegations would ruin his business and risk the livelihood of his employees.

"When there's a snowball of baseless news like this and our business partners delay or even cancel business deals, it's doomsday for the company," Tommy said, adding that he was willing to do anything to stop the rumors.

"I am asking you not to let the issue drag on. If I have to lick your shoes so that a million or so of my employees can still make a living, I will do it. To me, the interest of the nation is far more important than my pride and the pride of my family."

According to the reports, the leaked cables allege Agung Laksono, the coordinating minister for people's welfare, told US diplomats that TB Silalahi "functioned as a middleman, relaying funds from Winata to Yudhoyono, protecting the president from potential liabilities that could arise if Yudhoyono were to deal with Tomy directly."

Tomy said he had been friends with TB, who works as a consultant at Artha Graha, for 30 years, but "Pak TB is not a person who connects us with SBY and his family."

As to allegations that he is "an underworld figure and a member of a leading syndicate called the 'Gang of Nine' or 'Nine Dragons', Tomy said he had never heard of the sydnicate.

"I am confused with the term 'Nine Dragons.' I don't understand," he said. "These are irresponsible allegations. I was born in Indonesia and have lived here all my life. I will always do my best for the country."