Prabowo Subianto, Indonesia’s 8th President, and Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin were seen riding together in a Maung vehicle after a handover memorandum ceremony at the Ministry of Defense in Jakarta on October 22. The ceremony involved the transfer of responsibilities from Prabowo to Sjafrie, who will continue in the role. They also exchanged tokens of appreciation.
The event concluded with Prabowo and Sjafrie boarding the Maung vehicle, manufactured by PT Pindad, and travelling from the Ministry of Defense to the State Palace. The public, including civilians and military personnel, showed great enthusiasm as they passed by, shouting greetings such as “Pak Prabowo! Mr. President!”
Sjafrie and Prabowo have maintained a close bond since their youth, as seen in photos shared by Sjafrie on his Instagram account. They both graduated from the Military Academy in 1974 and served together in the elite Red Beret Corps, Kopassus, participating in significant military operations.
Sjafrie held various key positions throughout his career, including roles in the Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defense. After retiring from active military service, he transitioned to government roles, serving as Deputy Minister of Defense during President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s second term, and later as Assistant Minister of Defense for Defense Management. He was officially appointed as Minister of Defense by President Prabowo in the Merah Putih Cabinet and took office on October 21, 2024.
