Newly inaugurated President Prabowo Subianto (centre) waving to his supporters as he heads to the State Palace after the inauguration ceremony at the Senayan legislative complex in Jakarta on Oct 20, 2024. - AFP
JAKARTA: In addition to newly inaugurated President Prabowo Subianto, the car he rode in, produced by state-owned military vehicle producer PT Pindad, garnered significant attention on Sunday (Oct 20) for its martial design as compared to past presidential cars.
Prabowo, who was sworn in on Sunday at the Senayan legislative complex in Jakarta alongside Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, greeted spectators lining Jakarta’s roads in an MV3 Garuda Limousine, a new model by PT Pindad.
With a long body and four-wheel drive, the white car is the sports utility vehicle (SUV) limousine version of Pindad’s signature Maung tactical vehicle, hence its nickname “Maung Garuda”.
It also has a sunroof, from which Prabowo waved to his supporters on Sunday wearing a blue baseball cap and dark shades.
“We are so proud that our newest vehicle, the MV3 Garuda Limousine, made by Indonesians, was used in this historic moment by the President,” Pindad president director Abraham Mose said in a statement on Sunday.
Abraham said Prabowo had “continuously given his support, challenged and pushed locally made products by Pindad to keep thriving and improving their quality”.
Military analyst Khairul Fahmi of the Institute for Security and Strategic Studies (ISESS) said Prabowo’s choice of a Pindad vehicle could be a signal of his preference for military and defence-related products.
“Using military-like vehicles at a state event could show the values of discipline, resilience and readiness to face any situation that are firmly held by the military,” Khairul told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
“Prabowo may want to show that his leadership will not only prioritise political and economic aspects but also readiness to ensure national security and sovereignty are maintained,” he added.
The inauguration ceremony was not the first time Prabowo, a former Army general, has ridden in a Pindad vehicle at a ceremonial event.
Last week, Prabowo and his predecessor Joko 'Jokow' Widodo were paraded on a Maung tactical vehicle during an inauguration preparation event at the National Police’s Mobile Brigade (Brimob) headquarters in Depok, West Java.
Prabowo has long given special attention to Pindad, a local firm that produced armaments for the Indonesian Military (TNI).
During his time as defence minister under former president Jokowi, Prabowo has overseen Pindad’s progress in upgrading its quality and production.
Last year, Jokowi said the enterprise had managed to double its yearly bullet production to 415 million bullets thanks to a state capital injection (PMN).
Timor-Leste Prabowo also came up with the idea for Pindad to make a special “Pope Mobile” for the visit of Pope Francis to Indonesia in September.
The 87-year-old rode the vehicle to his Mass at Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) Stadium in Senayan, Jakarta.
With Prabowo’s apparent affinity for the military company and its vehicles, Khairul of ISESS said it was possible that he would include a Pindad tactical vehicle such as a Maung in his presidential motorcade.
“If that happened, it would set a unique precedent. I cannot recall past presidents using a Pindad or any military vehicle for their motorcades,” Khairul said.
All of Prabowo’s predecessors, except Sukarno, rode in different models by Mercedes Benz during their presidencies.
Sukarno rode in a 1930s luxury Buick by the United States automobile manufacturer of the same name.
Khairul also said Prabowo’s use of the Pindad car could be an attempt to show his identity as a former Army general.
“It would strengthen his leadership image as firm and security-oriented,” he said, adding that the military vehicle should also be made comfortable enough to accommodate world leaders visiting the country.
Fifty-two-year-old automotive enthusiast Kurnia Thamrin of South Jakarta was among the spectators fawning over the Garuda Limousine that Prabowo rode in on Sunday.
“The Garuda one is an upgraded version of the usual Maung by Pindad. It looked great, had a bulletproof window and made [the President] look tough,” he said on Monday.
Newly appointed State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi was not immediately available for comment on whether the Maung Garuda would be a permanent presidential vehicle. - The Jakarta Post/ANN
