REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA -- The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia (KBRI) in Canberra appreciates the role of both branches and special branches of Muhammadiyah in Australia in strengthening bilateral relations between Indonesia and Australia.

“Muhammadiyah Special Branches and Branches in Australia can play an important role in strengthening Indonesia-Australia relations,” said Education and Culture Attache (Atdikbud) of KBRI Canberra Mukhamad Najib at the opening of Baitul Arqom Muhammadiyah in Sydney on Saturday (30/12/2023), as a press release received in Jakarta on Tuesday (2/1/2023).

Najib said the presence of Muhammadiyah Australian College (MAC) in Australia has helped the Indonesian government in explaining the friendly, moderate and progressive face of Indonesian Islam to the Australian public.

Muhammadiyah schools in Australia can also, according to him, be a cultural bridge between the peoples of the two countries.

In his speech Najib praised Muhammadiyah's efforts to spread understanding of Islam abroad, including in Australia, which he said had a diverse cultural background. However, Najib pointed to research that found that some Australians felt less culturally close to Indonesians.

In contrast, the feeling of closeness to American and or European society was stronger. That, he said, was inversely proportional to the fact of G-to-G closeness between Australia and Indonesia. Najib said at the leadership level, relations between President Joko Widodo and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese were very good. That closeness, he said, was evident from the first bilateral visit Albanese made after being sworn in, which was to Indonesia.

For this reason, he assessed that the perception of Australians who still do not fully feel close to Indonesia needs to be a mirror of the importance of introducing Indonesia from the social and cultural aspects in a complete and continuous manner.

“The establishment of Muhammadiyah Australian College (MAC) can be a strategic means of introducing Indonesia and the friendly, moderate and progressive face of Indonesian Muslims to the Australian community through education,” Mr Najib said.

Mr Najib also stressed MAC's presence in Melbourne needed to be extended to other states, including New South Wales. The establishment of Muhammadiyah charities in Australia, both educational, health and social, is relevant to efforts to spread Muhammadiyah's understanding of Islam abroad, as the theme of the Second Baitul Arqom in Sydney.

In line with this, Chairman of the Special Branch of Muhammadiyah (PCIM) Australia Hamim Jufri considers that MAC's presence in Melbourne is a form of cultural diplomacy and an effort to build Australian people's trust in Indonesia.

“Naturally, this MAC will test the guts and skills of how advanced, modern and Islamic education is managed according to Australian educational standards,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Council for Training of Cadres and Human Resources (MPKSDI) Head of the Muhammadiyah Bachtiar Center Dwi Kurniawan assessed that the participants of Baitul Arqom in Sydney are among the Indonesian diaspora in Australia.

Therefore, thoughts, inspirations and experiences of life in multicultural Australia should be explored in a participatory manner through the Baitul Arqom so as to empower the potential participants and benefit the caderisation and vision of Muhammadiyah leadership in the present and future.

Ikuti Whatsapp Channel Republika