Muhammadiyah to Present Democracy, Policy Evaluations to President Prabowo

The central leadership of Muhammadiyah, a prominent Indonesian Islamic organization, plans to present its findings on the nation's democracy, public policy, and economic conditions to President Prabowo Subianto. This move stems from a recent meeting where Muhammadiyah leaders and civil society figures discussed concerns about a shrinking space for public criticism.

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We want to show statesmanship to the government. If there are shortcomings, we want to remind them in a critical, ethical, constructive, and research-based manner.

Busyro Muqoddas, head of Muhammadiyah's Law, Human Rights, and Governance division, stated the organization aims to offer "statesmanship" by providing "critical, ethical, constructive, and research-based" reminders to the government about its shortcomings. Muhammadiyah is finalizing several studies, with a particular focus on social conflicts and alleged human rights violations linked to national strategic projects (PSN) in areas like Wadas, Rempang, Ternate, and Papua. The organization contends these projects have led to economic, social, cultural, legal, and human rights impoverishment.

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There is economic, social, cultural, legal, and human rights impoverishment.

Muhammadiyah also plans to scrutinize the "Free Nutritious Meal" (MBG) program, a flagship initiative of Prabowo's administration. Busyro criticized the program's development for lacking transparency and public participation, suggesting that current corrective measures, such as adjusting beneficiaries and using corporate social responsibility funds, do not address the core issues. He recommended temporarily halting and evaluating the MBG program.

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At least stop MBG temporarily, then evaluate it.

Furthermore, the organization intends to critique the state of democracy and freedom of expression, with Busyro observing a recent tendency for the government to be unreceptive to criticism, even labeling critics as "foreign agents." He pointed to recent student protests across various regions as evidence of accumulated public disappointment, drawing parallels to the socio-political climate preceding the 1998 Reformasi. "This has the potential to move towards that, Reformasi volume II," Busyro warned, urging the government to respond more openly to public criticism to de-escalate tensions.

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This has the potential to move towards that, Reformasi volume II.