Muhammadiyah Representatives from 16 Countries Attend Congress

TEMPO.CO, Makassar - The representatives of Muhammadiyah from 16 countries attend the 47th Congress of the major Islamic organization of Indonesia, in effort to discuss the organization programs globally, an official has said.

"This deliberation discusses three key agenda namely the achievement of Muhammadiyah internationally, information exchange, and feedback of Muhammadiyah development and its sister program," chief of Muhammadiyah International session KH Muhyiddin Junaidi stated here on Sunday.

Participants of the Muhammadiyah representatives are among others from United States, Germany, France, Russia, Italy, Japan, Taiwan, Iran, the Netherlands, Vietnam, Timor-Leste, Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia.

Junaidi further explained that participants of the Muhammadiyah foreign representatives looked enthusiastic to follow the deliberation, especially to discuss the agenda of sister program for the 2015-2020 period.

Meanwhile, general chairman of Muhammadiyah executive board Din Syamsuddin revealed that Muhammadiyah as an Islamic organization will internalize its programs for community building.

In this regard, Din expressed a hope that Muhammadiyah leadership in the next five years could bring this Islamic organization as an organization which is taken into account, domestically and also abroad.

Earlier, Din hoped that participants of the deliberation meeting will choose the organization`s board members for the 2015-2020 period objectively.

Din made the request while delivering his speech at the opening of the "tanwir" meeting at the 47th Congress of the Muhammadiyah here on Saturday (Aug 1).

"I did not return the form (to run for the election) because I would like to give other figures the opportunity to compete. I wish to show that all positions are the same. Later, I will hold only the position of the chairman of the South Jakarta branch. I have no preference," he stated.

Syamsuddin also hoped that the congress runs well, elegantly and respectably.

"I wish to thank the regional board of South Sulawesi for having prepared the material for the congress. We must show elegance as educated people. In case problems arise, they must be settled well through a dialogue. If this is done, it will serve as a good example for others," he remarked.

In addition, he thanked the chairman of the central organizing committee, Professor Dr. Zamroni, as well as regional chairmen for having successfully organized the congress.

On the occasion, Din introduced a number of foreign guests, including those from the Moro Islamic Liberation Front and the Mauritius and South Korean branches of Muhammadiyah.

A total of 204 people participated in the tanwir meeting. They will elect 39 from the 82 predetermined candidates as members of the central executive board of Muhammadiyah.

The names of 39 nominees with the highest number of votes will be brought to the second plenary meeting on Sunday for confirmation as fixed candidates for the central executive board of Muhammadiyah for 2015-2020.

ANTARA