In his office's statement cited here on Sunday, he emphasized the need to assist villages in breaking free from poverty and hunger.
"Poverty, ignorance, hunger, backwardness, and lack of knowledge are still evident among those residing in villages. Hence, we would like to invite Muhammadiyah to pay closer attention to rural areas," he remarked at an event marking Muhammadiyah's 112th anniversary in Serang, Banten.
In his speech, Susanto pointed out that electrification has yet to reach about 3,000 villages across the country, consequently rendering it difficult for their residents to access vital services, including those related to health and education.
The minister further remarked that it is vital for the PDT Ministry and all relevant stakeholders to exert all-out efforts in collaboration to bring positive changes to rural regions, considering that thousands of villages in Indonesia are still considered underdeveloped.
He then highlighted that pursuing an equitable economy and alleviating poverty through rural development is part of the Asta Cita, or eight main missions, promoted by President Prabowo Subianto and his administration.
"Let us work hand in hand. I believe that developing villages equals developing Indonesia. We are convinced that together with Muhammadiyah, we will be able to stimulate economic growth in villages," he stated.
Meanwhile, Muhammadiyah leader figure and Minister of Primary and Secondary Education, Abdul Mu'ti, kindly welcomed Susanto's call for collaboration.
He said he shares the same view about the need for Indonesia to designate rural development as the foundation of national development and boost the quality of its human resources in order to emerge as an advanced nation.
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Translator: Tegar Nurfitra Putra Rofian
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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