TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto visited Yogyakarta on Friday afternoon, July 14. There, Prabowo met with Muhammadiyah Central Executive (PP) at the Ahmad Dahlan University (UAD) to discuss issues including State defense affairs.

The Gerindra Party chairman was in a closed meeting for nearly three hours with PP Muhammadiyah chairman Haedar Nashir, general secretary of Muhammadiyah Abdul Mu'ti, and UAD Chancellor of Yogyakarta Muchlas.

Prabowo, next year's presidential candidate from the Great Indonesia Awakening Coalition (KKIR), said that the cooperation with Muhammadiyah is more about education and technology development, especially for future national defense affairs.

"We at the Ministry of Defense ask for support—perhaps Muhammadiyah has experts in the field of technology who can become consultants," Prabowo added.

According to Prabowo, as Muhammadiyah has hundreds of universities in the country, the organization has ample human resources to assist the government in strengthening the national defense system.

"The Ministry of Defense feels that it is important to establish a close partnership with Muhammadiyah."

PRIBADI WICAKSONO

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