The Maung Car is Going Viral, Turns Out It Has This Meaning
President Prabowo Subianto has once again captured attention by bringing the presidential vehicle Maung to the Philippines for the ASEAN Summit 2026 agenda. The domestically made vehicle has officially become the presidential car since Prabowo’s inauguration on 20 October 2024.
The use of the Maung also ends the long tradition of Indonesian presidents being associated with armoured Mercedes-Benz vehicles for decades. However, behind its majestic appearance, few know that the name “Maung” is actually an acronym with a special and formidable meaning.
What is it?
Abraham Mose, President Director of PT Pindad from 2016 to 2024, once revealed that Maung is an abbreviation for “Manusia Unggul” (Superior Man). The name was reportedly proposed directly by Prabowo when he was still serving as Minister of Defence.
“He [Defence Minister Prabowo] immediately said he would order 500 units. He gave the name Maung,” Abraham told CNBC Indonesia, quoted on Monday (11/5/2026).
The naming of Maung is also inseparable from the location of PT Pindad in West Java. This is because maung is an animal with strong cultural roots in the Sundanese land. In Sundanese, maung means tiger.
Citing research titled “Antara Mitos dan Realitas: Historisitas Maung di Tatar Sunda” (2019), Sundanese people regard the maung symbol as more than just an ordinary animal. The story’s origins are tied to the legend of Prabu Siliwangi, the great king of the Sunda Kingdom who is believed to have disappeared in the Sancang Forest, South Garut.
In folklore, Prabu Siliwangi was chased by his own son, Prabu Kian Santang, who wanted to persuade his father to embrace Islam. The pursuit is said to have ended in the Sancang Forest. There, Prabu Siliwangi is believed to have transformed into a white tiger, while his followers turned into forest guardian tigers.
“If I am no longer with you, just observe the behaviour of the tiger,” Prabu Siliwangi is quoted as saying.
However, experts reveal that the expression of tiger or maung serves only as a symbol of bravery. On this basis, maung is synonymous with strength.
“Maung is specifically represented as a symbol of strength,” states the research “Antara Mitos dan Realitas: Historisitas Maung di Tatar Sunda”.
In addition to the presidential vehicle, maung is also used to name several places, business entities, and military emblems. For example, the football club Persib is called Maung Bandung, and Kodam Siliwangi uses the tiger in its emblem.