MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, REMBANG – Muhammadiyah has reaffirmed its commitment to improving the lives of Indonesian people, particularly farmers. Recently, President of Muhammadiyah Haedar Nashir visited Rembang to meet sugarcane farmers.
“Muhammadiyah has been focusing on community empowerment and economic development, especially by uplifting marginalized communities, so that they can live prosperously,” said Haedar in his visit on Monday (August 12).
What Muhammadiyah is doing now is a continuation of the teachings and movement of Kiai Ahmad Dahlan. Even for improving welfare and the economy, Muhammadiyah often starts from scratch.
Muhammadiyah has been involved in various community development projects across Indonesia, including Arar Island, Papua Barat, and the Dayak community in Berau, Kalimantan. These initiatives become models for other regions.
“What goes around comes around. Even the littlest good deed pays off, and bad things always catch up with you,” said Haedar.
To further enhance its community development efforts, especially in agriculture, Muhammadiyah plans to leverage its educational institutions for research. This includes exploring the possibility of managing mining operations, an endeavor for which Muhammadiyah believes it is well-prepared.
“We also have an Islamic philosophy, namely ‘Islam Berkemajuan’ (Progressive Islam), which promotes the management of all aspects of life without causing harm,” said Haedar.
Haedar also cautioned against greed in managing natural resources. He called on businesses to be more socially responsible, encouraging them to share their profits and actively participate in community development.
The partnership between Muhammadiyah and PT. Wadah Karya Rembang aims to convert idle land into productive agricultural areas, particularly for sugarcane cultivation.
Meanwhile, Governor of Central Java 2008-2013, Bibit Waluyo, welcomed Muhammadiyah involvement, stating that it was a breath of fresh air for the community, particularly the sugarcane farmers in Rembang.
Bibit Waluyo encouraged farmers to be more proactive in their agricultural endeavors and called on the government to provide greater support, such as easy access to fertilizers and guaranteed market access for farmers’ produce.
Regent of Rembang Abdul Hafidz also expressed gratitude for Muhammadiyah support in improving the welfare of the people of Rembang.
Besides, the Director of PT. Wadah Karya Rembang Lie Kamajaya expressed hope that the partnership with Muhammadiyah would benefit sugarcane farmers in Rembang.
“We hope that through this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Muhammadiyah can help sugarcane farmers in Rembang, not only through research on sugarcane varieties but also by participating in the construction and development of the factory,” said Lie Kamajaya.
