TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ministry of Defense (Kemhan) has denied allegations of backing the import of 105,000 pickup trucks from India for the operational needs of the Red an White (Merah Putih) village cooperative. These allegations arose following a donation of four Mahindra Scorpios, manufactured by Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. (M&M), from PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara to the Ministry of Defense.
M&M is an Indian multinational automotive manufacturing company, and also produced the 105,000 pickup trucks ordered for the Merah Putih village cooperative.
The Head of the Ministry of Defense's Defense Information Bureau, Brigadier General Rico Ricardo, explained that during the floods and landslides on Sumatra Island in December 2025, M&M did indeed donate four vehicles to the Ministry of Defense. The donation was made through PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara, a state-owned food enterprise.
However, Rico denied that the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) or the Ministry of Defense were involved in the purchase of thousands of pickup trucks for the Merah Putih village cooperative. "So, it's not true that the Ministry of Defense is facilitating things or anything like that. That doesn't exist," Rico said when met in the Menteng area, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
Rico said the four cars have arrived in Indonesia and have been immediately distributed to Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) units tasked with disaster management in North Sumatra, West Sumatra, and Aceh. "From yesterday until now, they have been used by soldiers involved in logistics distribution, medical aid, and for the movement of people, including individuals," he said.
The government plans to import 105,000 pickup trucks from India, with an estimated value of IDR 24.66 trillion. These trucks will be used for the activities of the Red and White Village Cooperatives in 85,000 villages. Through Agrinas Pangan Nusantara, the government is targeting the construction of 30,000 Red and White Village Cooperative buildings by mid-2026.
The plan to import thousands of cars has sparked a stir on social media and drawn widespread criticism, as it is perceived as potentially crippling the domestic automotive industry. Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, asked the government to postpone the planned import of 105,000 vehicles.
The Gerindra Party's Executive Chairman believes the plan needs further review with President Prabowo Subianto, who is currently visiting the United States. "I have conveyed a message to the government to postpone the plan, considering that the President is still abroad," Dasco said at the House of Representatives Complex in Jakarta on Monday, February 23, 2026.
Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa later agreed with Dasco's suggestion. However, several pickup trucks have already arrived in Indonesia.
PT Agrinas Pangan Nusantara President Director Joao Angelo De Sousa Mota stated that there are currently no plans to postpone the import of the 105,000 pickup trucks. However, he confirmed that the units that have arrived in Indonesia will not be distributed until official government direction is given.
He claimed to be ready to bear the consequences of this policy. "So, if we're told not to use it, we won't. Whatever the risk, that's the consequence I have to take. And I must stand up and take responsibility for this," he said at a press conference in Jakarta on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.
Read: Academic: Indonesia's Plan to Import 105,000 Pickups Is Irrational
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