Prabowo Subianto, the 8th President of Indonesia, 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 Tuesday, October 22.
The day was filled with events, including a ceremonial salute and the handover of a memorandum from Prabowo to Sjafrie, who will be taking on the role. They also exchanged tokens of appreciation before boarding the Maung, a vehicle made by PT Pindad, to travel from the Ministry of Defense to the State Palace.
During their journey, the public, including civilians and military personnel, showed great enthusiasm as Prabowo and Sjafrie passed by. People shouted greetings like “Pak Prabowo! Mr. President!” showing their respect and support.
Sjafrie and Prabowo have a longstanding bond dating back to their youth. They both graduated from the Military Academy in 1974 and served together in the elite Red Beret Corps, Kopassus, participating in significant military operations, including those in East Timor.
Sjafrie has held various key positions throughout his career, including Assistant for Territorial Affairs to the Chief of Staff of the TNI, Advisor to the Commander of the Armed Forces, and Secretary General of the Ministry of Defense. After retiring from active military service in 2010, he transitioned to government roles, eventually being appointed as Minister of Defense by President Prabowo for the Merah Putih Cabinet.
Their close relationship and shared experiences make for a strong partnership as they work together for the defense and security of Indonesia.
