MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, YOGYAKARTA – Muhammadiyah Scholarship Agency (MSA) signed a Cooperation Agreement with Bank Aladin Syariah on Tuesday (14/10) at the Muhammadiyah Central Board (PP Muhammadiyah) Office in Yogyakarta.
The Secretary of PP Muhammadiyah, Muhammad Sayuti, explained that this agreement is a follow-up to the previous Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Bank Aladin Syariah and PP Muhammadiyah, signed at the same venue.
According to Sayuti, there remains a vast space for charitable initiatives within Muhammadiyah–especially in providing scholarships for Muhammadiyah-’Aisyiyah University students and lecturers.
“This commitment deserves our appreciation as it creates opportunities for the nation’s young cadres to advance,” he said.
Sayuti emphasized that partnerships with Muhammadiyah have strong continuity and are free from political interests, making this collaboration a valuable opportunity.
“Our public trust is very high. MSA must continue to uphold this trust, including in its partnership with Bank Aladin Syariah,” Sayuti added.
The agreement focuses on the Distribution of Educational Aid Funds. MSA Director Ahmad Romadhoni (Dhoni) explained that the current scholarship program targets masters student.
In his speech, Dhoni expressed his gratitude for the support MSA has received, reaffirming the agency’s main mission: to make education more accessible for all.
To date, MSA manages a scholarship fund of approximately IDR 7 billions. These funds come from multiple stakeholders who have entrusted MSA to distribute them to deserving recipients.
“Muhammadiyah’s keywords are education and hospitals,” Dhoni added.
During his time as Director, he has observed that many promising cadres face financial obstacles. Some scholarship recipients even struggle to apply for passports despite being accepted to study abroad.
Meanwhile, President Director of Bank Aladin Syariah, Koko Tjatur Rachmadi, emphasized that the bank aims to serve as a vehicle for good deeds, driven by the Islamic principle of rahmatan lil ‘alamin (being a mercy for all creation).
Looking ahead, Koko highlighted the importance of collaboration and synergy to address future challenges, noting that Muhammadiyah should be a key partner in this effort.
“There are several areas where we can work together, . . . including with MSA for masters level students,” he said.
The partnership will also explore the development of a soft loan program for masters students pursuing or preparing to study overseas. This is particularly important, as a deposit account is one of the key requirements for obtaining a passport for study abroad.
He expressed hope that this collaboration will help Muhammadiyah actualize its mission to advance and prosper the nation, including through scholarship programs for young Indonesians. (Bintang Adrian)
