Agree Prabowo To Make The National Car Maung, Commission I Of The DPR: For Private Financing Civilians

JAKARTA - Member of Commission I DPR RI from the PDIP faction, TB Hasanuddin agreed with President Prabowo Subianto's plan to want the Maung car produced by PT Pindad to become a national car.

He hopes that the President can realize this plan, because so far Indonesia has not had a car that has actually been born from the capabilities of the domestic industry.

I think it's very good. In our automotive history, Indonesia has never had a national car. There used to be Timor, but it's from Korea. Bimantara is also from Hyundai. Pak Habibie had planned a Maleo car, but it didn't happen. Finally Esemka, but now it doesn't exist either. So, I hope the President can make Maung's car a national car," Hasanuddin told reporters, Wednesday, October 29.

Hasanuddin also agreed if Maung Pindad was immediately mass-produced. However, he reminded that Maung's mass production needs to be accompanied by a large mature concept, including marketing strategies and a full-sale system in all regions.

If Maung is mass-produced later, of course there must be a big concept, marketing, and the full-sale network must be ready. Sales of spare parts are also important, especially in the regions. I think Pindad is quite capable of making most of the components because they have their own automotive division," he explained.

According to the retired TNI, the level of domestic content (TKDN) of Maung cars does not have to reach 100 percent directly. The important thing, said Hasanuddin, is that Maung is a real symbol of the work of the nation's children who make Indonesia proud.

"Although perhaps the content is not 100 percent domestic, it doesn't matter. There is not a single automotive product in this world that is completely domestically made. The important thing is, Maung must be the work of the nation's children who make Indonesia proud," Hasanuddin said.

"Moreover, Maung has a double advantage, it can be used for both the civilian and military versions. I've gone up, forAGE classes, it's pretty good," continued the legislator from the West Java IX electoral district.

Furthermore, Hasanuddin assessed, in terms of defense and industrial independence, the existence of Maung is very important because it can be an initial milestone in the independence of a competitive national automotive industry.

If there is an Indonesian product in the same class as a desktop and the price is competitive compared to the outside car, it will be a separate advantage. In the future, this SUV class can be developed into medium transportation with a few modifications. The potential is large, and we should be proud and pray that this program succeeds," he said.

He also assessed that collaboration opportunities with the private sector, both domestic and foreign, must remain open to strengthening product quality and competitiveness.

High-tech products are difficult to do alone. Even Boeing planes are not fully self-made. So, collaboration with domestic and foreign private is very possible, as long as the goal is to strengthen the national industry," he explained.

Meanwhile, regarding financing, the member of the House of Representatives Commission in charge of defense affairs explained that vehicles for military needs will be financed through a defense budget. As for the civilian version, it is necessary to involve the private sector so as not to burden state finances.

"For military vehicles, the costs come from the defense budget. Meanwhile, the civilian version should involve the private sector so that the production and sales process can reach a wider market," he explained.

Hasanuddin hopes that President Prabowo's plan to make Maung's car a national car will run smoothly. He also emphasized that the success of this project will be a matter of pride for the Indonesian nation.

"The important thing is that we support together. This is our pride in having a national vehicle that is truly the work of the nation's children. Hopefully success and can become the pride of Indonesia," he concluded.