Muhammadiyah Chairman Highlights Economic Disparities and Oligarchy in Indonesia

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Chairman of the Central Leadership of Muhammadiyah (PP), Haedar Nashir, has highlighted economic disparities caused by a small number of people controlling wealth in Indonesia.

This statement was made by Haedar during the opening of the Tanwir and the 114th anniversary of Muhammadiyah in Palu, Central Sulawesi, attended by President Prabowo Subianto.

"Unity and togetherness in facing the challenges of economic disparity, where a small subset of people controls Indonesia's wealth, resulting in economic and socio-economic gaps," Haedar stated, as quoted from the Presidential Secretariat's YouTube channel, Saturday (11/14/2026).

He then quoted Surah Al-Hasyr, verse 7, emphasizing the importance of equitable wealth distribution, which should not be limited to a certain social group.

"In the Qur'an, it is stated kay la yakuna dulatan minal aghniya’i minkum, wealth should not be held only by a small group of people," he remarked.

Haedar explained that the lack of equity, when wealth is concentrated among a small elite, could lead to the emergence of economic oligarchy.

He asserted that Indonesia's unity cannot be realized substantively if socio-economic disparities continue to be maintained.

"This is what gives rise to economic oligarchy. The important point is: togetherness, unity, and justice will be damaged when this persists, when socio-economic disparities remain wide due to economic oligarchy," he said.

In addition to economic oligarchy, Haedar also warned of the dangers of political oligarchy, which could lead to division and fragmentation within society.

He reminded that Indonesian democracy should not merely become a mechanism for seizing and exercising power.

"Our political democracy cannot thrive amidst diversity and the noble ideals of the nation if we lose the wisdom in political engagement," he said.

According to Haedar, political practices focused solely on power struggles can undermine national unity.

"If there are any groups trying to dominate Indonesian politics, categorized by political hunger, national unity will be at risk," Haedar concluded.