Prabowo jokes with Police Chief: 'Police don't want to be under the Defense Minister'

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto lightheartedly commented on the police force's independence from the Ministry of Defense, drawing a contrast with the military's administrative ties to the ministry. The president made the remark during a joint harvest event in Malang, East Java, on Friday, which was attended by high-ranking officials including the National Police Chief General Listyo Sigit Prabowo, TNI Commander General Agus Subiyanto, and Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin.

During his address, Prabowo recalled an experience from his tenure as Defense Minister under the previous administration. He was offered a choice between a foreign-made jeep and the Indonesian-produced Maung jeep from PT Pindad. "When I was Defense Minister, I was offered, 'Sir, TNI,' at that time I was Defense Minister, so I couldn't manage the police, sorry, the police didn't want to be under the Defense Minister," Prabowo said, eliciting laughter from the audience.

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When I was Defense Minister, I was offered, 'Sir, TNI,' at that time I was Defense Minister, so I couldn't manage the police, sorry, the police didn't want to be under the Defense Minister.

He explained that he opted for the Maung jeep, despite its higher cost, because it was an Indonesian product. "So I chose the expensive one, a bit expensive, but made by our own Indonesian children, namely Maung. The one that our officers are now using, now using Maung," he stated.

Institutionally, the Indonesian National Police (Polri) report directly to the President and are not part of any ministry. This differs from the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), which are administratively and budgetarily under the Ministry of Defense.

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So I chose the expensive one, a bit expensive, but made by our own Indonesian children, namely Maung. The one that our officers are now using, now using Maung.