MUHAMMADIYAH.OR.ID, JAKARTA – Muhammadiyah welcomed a visit from the National Defense Council at the Muhammadiyah headquarters, Jakarta, on Wednesday, April 23. The two parties discussed key national issues and the potential for future collaboration.
The visit was led by Deputy Minister of Defense, Donny Ermawan Taufanto, and received by President of Muhammadiyah Haedar Nashir and other central board members. Haedar expressed appreciation for the initiative, emphasizing Muhammadiyah commitment to national development and sovereignty.
“We talked about various national issues. Muhammadiyah is part of the nation’s strength. We think we have responsibilities for this country. That’s why whenever there are national concerns, we always provide input, especially on matters of sovereignty and national safety,” said Haedar.
Haedar also stressed the importance of cooperation in science and technology, noting that real partnerships in this field can help Indonesia become more advanced and competitive.
“We’re open to working together in science and technology. President Prabowo has shown strong commitment in this area, aiming for Indonesia to be a leading country in science and tech. Through the National Defense Council, we’ve shared our thoughts and opened the door for practical collaboration,” he added.
Meanwhile, Donny explained that the National Defense Council is a newly established institution that has replaced the former National Resilience Council. In addition to strengthening relations after the Eid holiday, the visit aimed to formally introduce the National Defense Council to Muhammadiyah.
“This is a new institution, replacing the National Resilience Council. Thus, we would like to introduce ourselves and at the same time extend our post-Ramadan greetings to Muhammadiyah,” expressed Donny.
Donny appreciated Muhammadiyah input and said it was valuable for shaping defense policies. Both sides have also appointed liaison officers to keep communication open and ensure future cooperation runs smoothly.
“Universitas Ahmad Dahlan (UAD), which is part of Muhammadiyah, has already worked with us in the past. We’re very open to continuing and expanding this cooperation between Muhammadiyah and the National Defense Council,” added Donny.
Both the National Defense Council and Muhammadiyah hoped that the visit would lead to stronger collaboration in supporting national development and protecting Indonesia’s sovereignty.
