Ministry of Defence Denies Backing Import of Mahindra Scorpio Pick-up Trucks
The Ministry of Defence has denied allegations that it is backing PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara in importing Mahindra Scorpio pick-up trucks for the operational needs of the Merah Putih Village Cooperative.
The issue arose following the Ministry’s receipt of four Mahindra Scorpio vehicles.
The Head of Information at the Ministry of Defence’s Secretariat General, Brigadier General Rico Ricardo Sirait, explained that the Mahindra Scorpio vehicles previously received were humanitarian donations to support disaster relief efforts in Aceh.
“This assistance is intended to accelerate mobility in the field, so that the distribution of aid, evacuation of residents, and logistical support for affected communities can be carried out more quickly,” said Rico when confirmed on Thursday (26/2).
He stated that the receipt of the donation was independent and not part of the plan for Agrinas to procure 105,000 vehicles.
Rico said that the Ministry’s role in this matter is as the recipient of the assistance, which it fully utilises for humanitarian purposes and emergency disaster response.
“The Ministry of Defence ensures that all support received is directed to helping affected communities, and is managed transparently and can be accounted for,” he said.
Previously, the Director General of PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara, Joao Angelo De Sousa Mota, stated that there has been no decision to postpone the import of 105,000 pick-up trucks from India to fulfil the needs of the Village/Urban Cooperative programme (KDKMP).
This statement was in response to a request from the Deputy Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, who previously asked the government to postpone the import plan.
“Because I am a state-owned enterprise, I will definitely comply with the government and the people. We are loyal to the state and the people, not to individuals or specific groups who oppose it,” said Joao at Yoda Tower, Jakarta, on Tuesday (24/2).