Presidential Palace Reveals Story of Maung Garuda Being Transported to ASEAN Summit Site in Cebu
Jakarta (ANTARA) - The Presidential Secretariat has revealed the story of the presidential vehicle Maung Garuda, designed and assembled by PT Pindad, being transported to Cebu, Philippines, where it served as a showcase for Indonesia’s defence industry during the 48th ASEAN Summit.
“The presidential vehicle, a product of the nation’s ingenuity produced by PT Pindad, arrived in Cebu on 4 May 2026. From the hold of the TNI AU Airbus A400M aircraft, the Maung MV3 Garuda Limousine was brought directly from Indonesia to support President Prabowo’s mobility during the state agenda,” stated an official release from the Presidential Secretariat of the Republic of Indonesia, confirmed in Jakarta in the early hours of Monday.
Consequently, upon President Prabowo’s arrival in Cebu on 7 May, the Maung Garuda presidential vehicle was ready to transport the President to the venues for the series of events at the 48th ASEAN Summit and Related Meetings.
The Maung Garuda, which carried President Prabowo to the ASEAN Summit venue, captured the attention of delegates from several ASEAN member countries. “Not an imported vehicle or a foreign state car, President Prabowo chose to use a domestically produced vehicle as a representation of Indonesia’s strategic industry capabilities on the world stage,” the Presidential Secretariat of the Republic of Indonesia stated in the same official release.
Cabinet Secretary Teddy Indra Wijaya, in the same official release, emphasised that the decision to fly the Maung Garuda to Cebu, Philippines, was taken because Indonesia wanted to demonstrate a symbol of national self-reliance and confidence in its domestic strategic industry.
“The use of the Maung at this international forum is not merely a means of transportation, but rather a symbol of self-reliance, national confidence, and the progress of Indonesia’s national industry. The Maung becomes a symbol of diplomacy. From within the country, for Indonesia, present on the world stage,” said Cabinet Secretary Teddy.
Moreover, the journey of transporting the Maung from Jakarta to landing in Cebu also symbolised the country’s readiness to bring its national strategic products to perform on the world forum.
“The presence of that vehicle also demonstrates that Indonesia’s defence industry works are capable of standing side by side and trusted to support state agendas at the highest regional forum in Southeast Asia,” the official release from the Presidential Secretariat stated.
After the series of the 48th ASEAN Summit concluded on Friday (8/5) night and on Saturday (9/5) morning, the President departed from Cebu to Miangas Island, North Sulawesi, and the Maung Garuda presidential vehicle was flown back to Indonesia using the TNI AU A400M aircraft.