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 Tuesday (October 22). Following a series of events, including a ceremonial salute and the exchange of a memorandum, Prabowo and Sjafrie also exchanged tokens of appreciation.
The two then boarded a Maung vehicle, produced by PT Pindad, and traveled from the Ministry of Defense to the State Palace, where they were greeted with enthusiasm by the public, including civilians and military personnel. People shouted greetings such as “Pak Prabowo! Mr. President!” as they passed by.
Sjafrie and Prabowo have a long-standing bond that dates back to their youth. 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, Sjafrie transitioned to roles within the government, eventually being appointed as the Minister of Defense for the Merah Putih Cabinet by President Prabowo and sworn into office on October 21, 2024.
