DELI SERDANG | INDATANEWS.COM - Deli Serdang Regent Dr. H. Asri Ludin Tambunan has called on the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) in Deli Serdang Regency to strengthen its organizational independence. The move is intended to enable the MUI to carry out its role for the Muslim community more effectively and provide greater benefits to the public.
Asri Ludin made the statement while attending the sixth Regional Conference (Musda) of the MUI of
Deli Serdang Regency in 2026, held on Monday, August 24, 2026, at the Cadika Hall in Lubuk Pakam.
On the occasion, the regent emphasized that the Deli Serdang Regency Government would continue to support the MUI through the Regional Budget (APBD). At the same time, he encouraged the MUI to gradually develop its own, more independent sources of funding, including through support from the community.
"As Buya Maratua said, the MUI should now become increasingly independent. Its funding should no longer come solely from the APBD, but can be strengthened through lawful and voluntary contributions as well as donations from the community," he said.
According to Asri Ludin, an independent organization gives the MUI greater flexibility in planning and implementing various programs for religious and social guidance. Lawful and voluntary support from the community would also enable the MUI to expand the reach of its religious programs and strengthen its presence in society.
Government and MUI Seek to Expand Cooperation
The regent also praised MUI Deli Serdang Chairman Kaya Hasibuan and his entire team for their active cooperation with the Deli Serdang Regency Government to date.
In his view, this cooperation is reflected in various religious programs, including "Deli Serdang Mengaji" and the Musabaqah Tilawatil Qur'an (MTQ) Quran recitation competition. Asri Ludin said the regional government needed the MUI's support to jointly build a religiously oriented social environment while strengthening the character and moral values of the community.
He emphasized that regional development should not focus solely on infrastructure construction and the provision of public facilities. The government must also prioritize character building so that regional progress goes hand in hand with the strengthening of religious values.
"The government builds various facilities, and of course, we must preserve them together. Likewise, we must work together to build the character of the people," he said.
Asri Ludin expressed hope that the sixth MUI Regional Conference, scheduled for August 25–26, 2026, would produce a leadership team for the 2026–2031 term capable of advancing the organization toward greater independence. At the same time, he expects the new leadership to continue and further strengthen cooperation with the Deli Serdang Regency Government.
In his view, cooperation between the government and religious organizations has strategic importance, particularly in upholding Akhlakul Karimah, or good moral values, and building a society with strong character.
MUI INDEPENDENCE: Chairman of the MUI of North Sumatra Province Maratua Simanjuntak emphasizes the importance of MUI independence so that the organization can continue making concrete contributions to the Muslim community. (PHOTO: Edi Saputra)
North Sumatra MUI Highlights Organizational Independence
The Chairman of the MUI of North Sumatra Province, Maratua Simanjuntak, also emphasized the importance of organizational independence in implementing various MUI programs.
Maratua said strengthening independence was part of the commitment of the
North Sumatra MUI to ensure that the organization could continue making concrete contributions to the Muslim community. Independence, he said, was an important foundation for enabling the MUI to sustainably carry out its various duties and programs for the community.
The call for greater organizational independence is also in line with the Deli Serdang Regency Government's commitment to further strengthening the MUI in carrying out its responsibilities in religious guidance and public service.
With an increasingly independent organizational structure, the MUI is expected to be able to develop broader programs while maintaining good relations with the regional government and various community groups.
PROGRAM EVALUATION: MUI Deli Serdang Chairman Kaya Hasibuan explains that the sixth Regional Conference is an important moment to evaluate previous programs, formulate future work programs and establish leadership for the 2026–2031 term. (PHOTO: Edi Saputra)
Regional Conference Sets Five-Year Program
MUI Deli Serdang Chairman Kaya Hasibuan said the sixth Regional Conference was an important moment for the organization to evaluate its performance while determining the direction of its programs for the next five years.
The Regional Conference carries the theme: "Strengthening the Role of the MUI, Upholding Akhlakul Karimah, and Realizing a Healthy, Intelligent, Prosperous, Religious and Sustainable
Deli Serdang."
Kaya explained that the Regional Conference was not merely a forum to evaluate the work of the current leadership. It also provides the MUI of Deli Serdang Regency with an opportunity to establish future work programs and form new leadership for the 2026–2031 term.
He expressed hope that the Regional Conference would produce decisions capable of strengthening the MUI's role in religious and social life while contributing to the development and welfare of the people of
Deli Serdang.
The opening of the sixth Regional Conference of the MUI of Deli Serdang Regency was also attended by representatives of the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda), as well as several Islamic community organizations from Deli Serdang Regency.
The presence of various community and institutional representatives underscores the importance of cooperation among the regional government, the MUI, Islamic community organizations and the public in building a religiously oriented social environment.
Through the sixth Regional Conference, the Deli Serdang MUI is expected to produce a united and capable leadership team, work programs that respond to the needs of the community, and strategies to strengthen the organization. These efforts are intended to ensure the MUI's sustainable role in providing religious guidance to the public.
At the same time, cooperation with the
Deli Serdang Regency Government remains an important component in supporting various religious programs and strengthening community character. Through this collaboration, efforts to realize a healthy, intelligent, prosperous, religious and sustainable society in
Deli Serdang are expected to gain further momentum.
(IDNC)REPORTER: Edi Saputra | EDITOR: Fik Sagala