PERKIM Headquarters Welcomed Regional Leaders of Muhammadiyah Riau’s Visit
KUALA LUMPUR, 30 JANUARY 2024 – An eighteen-member group of Regional Leaders of Muhammadiyah Riau (PWMR) paid PERKIM a visit.
They were cordially welcomed by the Honorary Secretary General of PERKIM, Tan Sri Dr Yusuf Noor and officers.
In his welcoming speech, Tan Sri Yusuf Noor said that we belong to the same genealogy and share many similarities which are cemented by Islam.
Tan Sri Yusuf Noor gave an account of how the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, the late YTM Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj mooted the idea of establishing PERKIM when he saw the many different nationalities, colours and creed performing Hajj in Mecca.
When PERKIM was established, YTM Tunku elected the late Tan Sri Ubaidullah Kadir Basha as President (1960 – 1964), the late Tan Sri Mubin Sheppard as Secretary General (1960 – 1964. The late Tun Omar Ong Yoke Lin had greatly assisted Tunku in this work.
The office bearers at that time consisted of British, Indian, Chinese and Malays of Arab origin.
Tan Sri Yusuf Noor congratulated the Muhammadiyah leaders for their ability and hard work in establishing 173 private universities in Indonesia and educating thousands of the new generation.
He quoted a verse from Surah Al-Baqarah, Ayat 269, which meant: “And whoever is granted the gift of wisdom has indeed been granted abundance of goodness.”
Tan Sri congratulated the Indonesians, specifically the Indonesian Chinese Muslim Association for its one million members. We in Malaysia hope slowly but surely to reach that target.
The leader of PWMR, Dr Hendri Sayuti declared that their main objective of visiting Malaysia was to forge closer relations with Muslim organisations here.
PWMR was established in Jogjakarta in 1967 and the one in Riau was established a few years after Indonesia’s Independence. Activities were planned to include dakwah, education, health, welfare and economy.
The last 48th conference in Surakarta saw the birth of a department that deals with public issues.
Dr Hendri hoped that in the near future, there will be more meetings or visits between the two countries. He then issued an invitation for PERKIM to visit Riau for joint programmes.
An exchange of gifts marked the close of the visit.
Dr Yusof Noor shakes hands with one of the Regional Leaders of Muhammadiyah Riau.
Muhammad Farhan Tee Abdullah welcomed the members of the entourage while hosting the ceremony.
Muhammad Jais Mariappan Abdullah led the recitation of the opening prayer.
17 members of the Riau Muhammadiyah Regional Leadership entourage raised their hands when the prayer was read.
Dr Yusof Noor delivered his speech while warmly welcoming the presence of the entourage.
Dr Yusof Noor said to the members of the group that there is no difference between us because we are related and are not strangers to us because our looks, clothes, language and culture are almost similar like a family.
Dr. Yusof Noor said that Almarhum Tunku thought when fulfilling the obligatory Hajj that there are various races and can be united in PERKIM.
Dr Yusof Noor congratulated the leadership of Muhammadiyah which has more than 100 universities in giving birth to tens of thousands of new generations.
The leadership of Muhammadiyah listened to the speech delivered.
Dr. Hendri Sayuti is the Head of the Regional Leadership of Muhammadiyah Riau delivering his speech.
Dr Hendri also presented the history and establishment of the Regional Leadership of Muhammadiyah Riau in his speech.
Dr Hendri in his speech said that his delegation was in Malaysia in a few days to strengthen friendship and cooperation with Islamic organizations in Malaysia.
Dr Yusof Noor presented a souvenir in the form of a PERKIM plaque to Dr Hendri.
Dr Hendri also presented a souvenir in the form of a Muhammadiyah Riau plaque to Dr Yusof Noor.
Members of the group enjoyed a lunch prepared while a PERKIM corporate video was shown.
The PERKIM leadership took a picture with the Riau Muhammadiyah Regional Leader at the end of the meeting.
The leadership of PERKIM and the leadership of Muhammadiyah Riau together showed a thumbs up gesture when taking a souvenir photo at the end of the visit.
