Remarks of President of the Republic of Indonesia at the 1st National Executive Meeting (Tanwir) of Pemuda Muhammadiyah, Friday, 2 April 2021 from the Bogor Presidential Palace, West Java Province
Bismillahirrahmanirrahim,
Assalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh,
Distinguished Ministers of the Indonesia Onward Cabinet;
Distinguished Chairman of Muhammadiyah Prof. Dr. Haedar Nashir;
Distinguished Governor of North Sulawesi;
Distinguished Muhammadiyah Regional Leader of North Sulawesi Nasrudin Yusuf;
Distinguished Chairman of Pemuda Muhammadiyah, the youth wing of Muslim organization Muhammadiyah, Sunanto;
Distinguished Regional Leader of Pemuda Muhammadiyah from all corners of Indonesia, and Participants of the 1st National Executive Meeting (Tanwir) of Pemuda Muhammadiyah;
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On this auspicious occasion, let me first extend my appreciation to all members of Pemuda Muhammadiyah throughout the country who always help the public by deploying thousands of volunteers during earthquakes, floods, and the pandemic. We are grateful because at this time of crisis, all elements of society are collaborating, working together, joining hands, and helping each other to curb the pandemic, as the reflection of the spirit of fastabiqul khairat (competing in doing good deeds). Solidarity and the spirit of collaboration must be further promoted to strengthen our national cohesion.
Distinguished Participants,
When I received members of Pemuda Muhammadiyah in an audience in January 2020, I told them to develop a transformative leadership, and to make innovation for the interest of the people. I also encouraged Pemuda Muhammadiyah to become a pioneer of the young Muslim generation in the economic sector, to provide solution and concrete contribution for the benefits of the people, and to make the presence of Pemuda Muhammadiyah be felt by the public.
I have received a report that preaching in the economic sector has been pioneered. There is a movement of progressive entrepreneurs who synergize all young entrepreneurs in Muhammadiyah, develop businesses, and encourage new entrepreneurs. We need more young entrepreneurs to anticipate demographic bonus in 2030. There are around 2.9 million more young people entering the job market each year making the need to create new jobs is pivotal. Therefore, we need more job creators, young entrepreneurs who can create new jobs.
Distinguished Members of Pemuda Muhammadiyah,
In a bid to support the new entrepreneurs, the Government undertakes massive reforms on business ecosystem. The Government also simplifies regulations that hamper Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises’ (MSMEs) development, and expands access to business capital for startup companies. We also manage vocational education and trainings to be more adaptive to the needs of the industry. We also carry out asset redistribution and agrarian reforms to bring economic equity and fairness.
I expect this meeting can further promote the culture of entrepreneurship and collaboration among the youth as a strategy of Pemuda Muhammadiyah’s cultural preaching and to spread the values of tawasuth (moderation), and ta’awun (mutual assistance) in helping each other in the lives of the nation. Lastly, the values of tolerance, interfaith unity, Islam wasathiyah (moderate Islam) must always be the foundation of such preaching in the economic sector.
I hope Pemuda Muhammadiyah can become the safeguard in protecting and strengthening tolerance and unity in diversity according to our state ideology Pancasila.
That concludes my remarks.
By saying bismillahirrahmanirrahim, I declare the 1st Tanwir of Pemuda Muhammadiyah officially open.
Fastabiqul khairat. Wassalamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. (RAS/MMB)