MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, MAGELANG – Muhammadiyah preserves the nation’s pluralism not through partisan politics, but through sustained social action, its president said on Thursday (22/01), emphasizing that its work benefits all citizens regardless of faith.
Haedar Nashir, President of Muhammadiyah Central Board, made the remarks during a national coordination meeting of Bank Syariah Indonesia in Magelang, Central Java. He said the organization has, since its establishment, deliberately chosen social movements over practical politics as its main path of engagement.
“We realize Bhinneka Tunggal Ika—unity in diversity—through social action, not political movements,” Haedar said. “That approach is more intimate. It affirms that we are brothers and sisters.”
Social Services as a Bridge Across Faiths
He pointed to Muhammadiyah’s work in eastern Indonesia, where the organization focuses on developing human resources through education and health services. Importantly, those services are not offered only to Muhammadiyah members or Muslims, but to the wider public.
“In eastern Indonesia, the term Krismuha—Christian Muhammadiyah—has emerged,” Haedar said. “Our Christian brothers and sisters there feel they are part of Muhammadiyah.”
According to him, Muhammadiyah’s broad social programs aim to translate ideas of diversity into tangible welfare. As a result, cooperation with various stakeholders is consistently directed toward concrete outcomes, especially social and economic well-being.
Economic Foundations of Human Development
Haedar stressed that achieving national prosperity, particularly economic welfare, still requires serious and practical efforts rather than symbolic initiatives. Economic improvement, he argued, directly affects the quality of education and health, which in turn raises the Human Development Index.
“When the economy improves, education and health follow,” he said. “That is how human development indicators rise.”
He urged stakeholders to confront the reality that Indonesian’s human development and average IQ indices still lag behind those of neighboring countries, including Malaysia. The primary cause, he said, remains weak economic conditions.
“That is why collaboration and synergy must focus on practical, forward-looking programs,” Haedar said.
Empowerment initiatives, he added, should have long-term strategic reach. Indonesia’s strong social capital, he concluded, must be managed wisely to build a more advanced and dignified national civilization.
Translator: Bintang Adrian
