President Joko Widodo hailed Muhammadiyah's consistent contributions, one of which was assisting in Covid-19 handling efforts and had acted quickly to mobilize all of its potential and carry out humanitarian work.
By
Dian Dewi Purnamasari/Mawar Kusuma
·4 minutes read
MUCHLIS JR - BIRO PERS SEKRETARIAT PRESIDEN
President Joko Widodo listened to a speech delivered by the General Chairperson of the Muhammadiyah Central Executive Haedar Nasir from the Yogyakarta Muhammadiyah University Auditorium, Thursday (17/11/2021).
JAKARTA, KOMPAS —Muhammadiyah, the country’s second-largest Muslim organization, has not stopped maintaining and advancing the nation during its 109 years of existence, President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo said recently. He hailed Muhammadiyah's consistent contributions, one of which was assisting in Covid-19 handling efforts. The President said Muhammadiyah had acted quickly to mobilize all of its potential and carry out humanitarian work.
The President made these statements in an address in commemoration of the 109th anniversary of Muhammadiyah, which was being celebrated in Yogyakarta on Thursday (11/18/2021).
"Muhammadiyah has shown an example of social piety, optimizing the utilization of more than 117 hospitals and 63 universities, both owned by Muhammadiyah and Aisyiyah [the women’s wing of Muhammadiyah] to help people exposed to the Covid-19 virus, as well as helping empower and enlighten people, providing medical services and promoting the implementation of health protocols," the President said in a virtual address from the State Palace.
At the event, on the behalf of the Indonesian people, the President congratulated the organization for reaching its 109th anniversary. He said Muhammadiyah had greatly contributed to maintaining and advancing the nation.
President Jokowi also invited Muhammadiyah to play a part in promoting the international role of Indonesia, which had recently accepted the presidency of the Group of 20 nations for the 2021-2022 term. "We must also continue to contribute to a more peaceful world," said the President.
Furthermore, President Jokowi said that history had recorded that Muhammadiyah had never flagged in promoting good values and in empowering the people.
Promoting progressive Islam, he said, was the key to achieving human dignity. "The main values of progressive Islam and wasathiyah (moderate) Islam have become the foundation of religious moderation to help make Indonesia, the largest Muslim country, safe and democratic," said the President.
TANGKAPAN LAYAR/DIAN DEWI PURNAMASARI
The General Chairperson of the Muhammadiyah Central Executive (PP) Haedar Nasir gave a speech at the 109th anniversary of Muhammadiyah event, Thursday (11/18/2021). Muhammadiyah is held offline at the Sportorium of the University of Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY).
Spirit of unity
In his address, the chairman of Muhammadiyah, Haedar Nasir, thanks the government and the nation as a whole for their hard work in addressing the Covid-19 crisis.
Haedar claimed the pandemic and all other national problems could be overcome simultaneously if all parties united within the framework of Indonesia. He said love, togetherness and the contribution of various components of the nation were still growing well.
Indonesia, he continued, had won the world's trust to serve as G20 president from 2021 to 2022. "Hopefully that trust can serve as the capital to build optimism and national consolidation to rise and move dynamically into a developed country," he said.
However, Haedar also noted that a number of problems still had to be solved. These problems, he said, included saving the nation from the threat of division, corruption, socioeconomic inequality and the exploitation of natural resources. "It takes a strong commitment, intelligence and togetherness, along with the wisdom of all elite parties and citizens of the nation, to solve these serious problems with the spirit of rising and progressing together," said Haedar.
Haedar also appealed to all parties to avoid negative attitudes and actions that could harm the unity of the nation and state. He said Indonesia had to be brought forward in the spirit of unity and integrity and that the country’s progress must be solidly based on the Constitution, Pancasila as the state ideology and the nation’s religious and cultural values.
"Especially in coping with the Covid-19 pandemic, optimism and hard work are important for the more effective handling of the outbreak. Collective policies and efforts must be implemented simultaneously with a well-organized plan,” said Haedar.
Big role
For 109 years, Muhammadiyah has served the nation and state, serving the community in the fields of education, health and socioeconomics while continuing to carry out Islamic da'wah.
Meanwhile, House of Representatives speaker Puan Maharani thanked Muhammadiyah for its contributions to the nation. Puan praised the role played by the organization in handling the Covid-19 pandemic. Muhammadiyah's dedication has brought a lot of benefits to the people.
Puan claimed the Covid-19 pandemic could be quickly overcome if all elements of society, including Muhammadiyah members, could work together. In fact, she said, at the age of 109 years, Muhammadiyah continued to pay attention to others.
“For 109 years, Muhammadiyah has served the nation and state, serving the community in the fields of education, health and socioeconomics while continuing to carry out Islamic da'wah (inviting others to become Muslim)," said Puan.
