Prabowo Wants 500 Rantis Maung From Pindad To Be Received By The Ministry Of Defense On TNI's Birthday

Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto testing the Maung tactical vehicle made by PT Pindad (Photo: Instagram @prabowo)

JAKARTA - Defense Minister (Menhan) Prabowo Subianto asked PT Pindad to complete its order of 500 Maung military tactical vehicles (rantis) in October.

"We hope that October is over," Prabowo told reporters at the DPR RI Building, Senayan, Central Jakarta, Thursday, July 16.

Some time ago, Prabowo has tested this car. He said the purchase of this car is proof that the Ministry of Defense supports the production of domestically made defense equipment.

Prabowo emphasized that this vehicle order must be completed by the TNI's birthday, which is commemorated on 5 October. "Yes, Insyaallah (it will be finished on TNI's birthday, red)," he said.

The chairman of the Gerindra Party said the purchase of this vehicle was in accordance with President Joko Widodo's order to revive the domestic industry.

Through Pindad, he continued, Prabowo wanted to create jobs for the Indonesian people. One way is to develop the domestic defense industry.

After all, said Prabowo, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic like now, the nation's income must be increased and the way is to advance the domestic defense industry.

"So the line is that the president has raised the domestic industry. Yes, we support the defense sector," he said.

Previously, President Director of PT Pindad Abraham Mose said Prabowo had actually ordered 3,000 units of this Maung romantic vehicle. However, the order for the first stage was only 500 units.

"He has spoken (ordered) 3,000 units, but in stage one the message is 500 units," said Mose to reporters some time ago.

He then explained that the order for the first stage was 500 units so that his party could fulfill the minimum order quantity for vehicle engines.

Maung, which is a lightweight romantic vehicle for fast maneuvers, is priced at around IDR 600 million per unit. If this is multiplied by the amount purchased by Prabowo, the total budget issued by the Ministry of Defense is Rp. 300 billion.