Former Indonesian Vice President Ma'ruf Amin Supports Muhammadiyah To Establish Sharia Banks

JAKARTA - The 13th Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia Ma'ruf Amin supports Muhammadiyah's move to establish a sharia bank, because it can encourage the development of the sharia economy and implementation of muamalah fiqh in Indonesia.

"I think we all who can build, increase Islamic institutions, it will revive, that's very good, it will bring muamalah to life," said Ma'ruf in Jakarta, quoted by Antara, Saturday, August 16.

Met on the sidelines of the closing ceremony of the 2025 Human Fraternity Fellowship at the residence of the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Jakarta, the former Vice President of the Republic of Indonesia views that the increase in Islamic banks will be better for the development of the Islamic economy in Indonesia.

He also welcomed those who intend to take opportunities from the national sharia economic share by developing a new Islamic bank for the community.

"So, I think it should be encouraged," said Ma'ruf.

At the end of June 2025, the Matahari Artaya BPR under the auspices of Muhammadiyah University, Prof. Dr. HAMKA (Uhamka) was officially converted into the Matahari Sharia People's Economy Bank (BPRS) or called the Matahari Sharia Bank (BSM).

The conversion from conventional BPR to sharia has received permission from the Financial Services Authority (OJK).

Although acknowledging Muhammadiyah has great potential to establish a general Islamic bank (BUS), PP Muhammadiyah Chairperson Anwar Abbas revealed that his party is focusing on strengthening the Matahari BPRS first.

"To establish a BUS, currently there is no plan even though the pressure from below or from among members is quite strong because there are many things that must be prepared both in terms of capital, network, IT and human resources," said Anwar.

According to Anwar, OJK hopes that Muhammadiyah will have a large and strong BPRS, which will later become the forerunner of the establishment of the Muhammadiyah BUS.

"In fact, OJK has written to PP Muhammadiyah to merge BPRS-BPRS in Muhammadiyah," he said.