The property in question is the Trump International Hotel and Tower, which comprises a luxury hotel with 147 guest suites, 217 high-end residential units and a four-level podium.

The C$360 million (RM1.1 billion) property belongs to the family-owned TA Global Bhd, a company listed on Bursa Malaysia.

TA Global CEO Tiah Joo Kim was previously reported as saying that his company was paying the Trump Organisation for licensing and marketing fees to use the Trump brand and manage the property.

Joo Kim is the son of Tony Tiah Thee Kian, the chairman of TA Enterprise which controls several other businesses.

CNN quoted the Malaysian Securities Commission as saying that Tony has “a checkered business history, including securities laws violations and false statements to Bursa Malaysia”.

Joo Kim is also said to be heading the family’s Canada-based development company Holborn Group, which manages the residential portion of Trump International Hotel and Tower.

It is unclear why the FBI might be interested in the business dealings between Ivanka and Joo Kim, although CNN said it could be related to the timing of the property’s opening, after Trump took office.

Trump International Hotel and Tower opened in February last year, just a month after Trump’s inauguration.

According to the report, a financial disclosure form by Trump last June revealed that the Trump Organisation made more than US$5 million in royalties and US$21,500 in management fees from the Vancouver property.

CNN said the flow of foreign money, either from the developer or international condo buyers, could be sparking scrutiny.

Responding to a query from CNN, Trump Organisation executive vice-president and chief legal officer Alan Garten said the company’s role was limited to licensing its brand and managing the hotel.

“Accordingly, the company would have had no involvement in the financing of the project or the sale of units,” Garten was quoted as saying.