REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, YOGYAKARTA -- The Assembly of Community Empowerment (MPM) of the Muhammadiyah Center Leaders provided Electric Tricak (Betrik) 1912 to support the empowerment of Paguyuban Abang Becak KH Ahmad Dahlan (PABELAN). The launch of Betrik 1912 took place in the courtyard of SM Tower Hotel complex, Yogyakarta City, Special Region Yogyakarta, yesterday.

In his speech, PP Muhammadiyah Chairman Agung Danarto appreciated the program initiated by MPM PP Muhammadiyah. According to him, the presence of Betrik 1912 proved that the Syarikatan contributed to strengthening the economy of the dhuafa-mustadh'afin community and at the same time supporting environmentally friendly efforts.

“In this blessed month of Ramadan, in a month full of care, MPM can contribute, care to the lower society, dhuafa, mustadh'afin,” Agung Danarto said, citing a written statement received by Republika, Sunday (16/3/2025).

He also thanked Danamon Sharia Bank for supporting the program through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) fund. In addition, support was also shown to a number of Muhammadiyah business charities (AUM) located in Yogyakarta.

Agung reminded that the Muhammadiyah Council plays a lot of role as an intermediary of virtue, that is, to bridge between the aghniya who want to be paid and the group who are entitled to receive, namely the dhuafa-mustadh'afin.

“This is done by MPM, I think, not only to rickshaw drivers, but also to many parties, including garbage collectors, to the disabled,” Agung said.

He hopes that the launch of Pabelan Betrik 1912 by MPM PP Muhammadiyah will not only have an economic impact on rickshaw riders, but also promote environmentally friendly modes of transportation.

Chairman of MPM PP Muhammadiyah M Nurul Yamin explained that this Pabelan support group is a transformation from the one previously formed by this assembly. “If there was Pabelan before, but it is still in a bad model. We will start transforming with electric rickshaws. Therefore, we invited Pabelan friends who today still use bentor (motor rickshaws), later we gradually migrate together,” he said.

The selection of electric-powered transport modes, Yamin said, also strengthened Yogyakarta's identity as a city of culture, tourism, education, and at the same time a city of the Commonwealth. Therefore, he hoped, Pabelan Betrik 1912 could continue to collaborate to provide city tours to the historical sites of Yogyakarta as well as Muhammadiyah.

Rector of Ahmad Dahlan University (UAD) Prof. Muchlas MT explained, Betrik 1912 is one of the results of downstream research conducted by UAD since 2018. In this regard, it cooperates with the Yogyakarta City Government and the local Transportation Department.

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