The Minister of Trade of Republic of Indonesia, Dr (HC) Zulkifli Hasan SE MM visited Universitas Muhammadiyah Riau (UMRI) on Monday (26/09). On this occasion, he also delivered the first public lecture in the Academic Year of 2022/2023. Zulhas accompanied by his team arrived on time at 8.00 a.m. Meanwhile the UMRI students warmly welcomed the Minister in the UMRI Main Campus yard on Tuanku Tambusai Ujung, Pekanbaru.
As the host, Siak Regent, Alfedri attended the public lecture with the Head of Trade Policy Division, the Ministry of Trade, Dr Kasan; the member of the Indonesian House of Representative, Dr Kon Erizal SE MBA; the Assistant of Governmental Office, Riau Regional government, Yurnalis Basri; and the Riau House of Representatives, Ade Hartati. On the other hand, the Vice Chairman of Riau Provincial Board, Prof Dr HM Nazir; the Treasurer, Safri Yoes; the Daily Advisory Board of UMRI, the Rector of UMRI, Dr H Saidul Amin MA, the Vice-Rectors, the Deans, Directors, the Head of Institutes, the Head of Study Programs, and many other academic civitates also followed the lecture.
The Rector of UMRI, Dr H Saidul Amin MA explained that the Minister’s visit to UMRI became a remarkable momentum. He wished that the freshmen would be motivated to be the enlightened youth amid broader communities and for the loving country.
Saidul Amin also mentioned that on this academic year, UMRI received 2,412 incoming students. From overall freshmen, there were also several non Moslem students. This number, according to the Rector, was due to Muhammadiyah’s goal as a universe blessing and mercy to all creation (rahmatan lil ‘alamin) in enlightening the universe as portrayed on the Muhammadiyah logo.
On the other hand, Zulkifli Hasan gave numerous encouragement to the students, including motivating to be courageous in competing. According to him, the ones who dare to compete will be the prominent people. “The ones who prepare themselves well will survive. However, the one who is not capable of preparing themselves will be eliminated,” Zulhas said.
On this occasion, he also hoped there would be a Minister, General, or Governor from UMRI. “I ensure that it will happen as you are now on the best campus in Riau,” said the Former People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) of the Republic of Indonesia 2014-2019 that directly received a standing ovation.
Furthermore, he mentioned that everyone has their own time. “We have the same 24 hours a day, whoever and what the profession is. The ones who can optimize it can be excellent. That’s why there will be a successful person, or not,” he added.
Besides giving motivation, Zulkifli also mentioned numerous achievements when he served as the minister in 109 days ago, including successfully controlling the market price to be relatively stable in post-pandemic economic recovery . Besides delivering his public lecture, the Muhammadiyah cadre also gave waqf (an Islamic endowment of property) of a classroom construction in the Tajdid Center building.
