Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin plans to reach out to the lower class “abangan” supporters of the PDI-P.

After the formation of Baitul Muslimin late in 2006 Muhammadiyah chairman Din Syamsuddin continues his efforts to reach out to the “abangan” supporters of the PDI-P, Partai Demokrasi Indonesia Perjuangan.

Speaking to a gathering of the leaders of the Partai Amanat Nasional (PAN) on the 19th of January 2007 Din said the abangan PDI-P voters, working class people who, while usually formally Muslim, are not always known for their piety and adherence to the demands of the faith, could not be ignored by Muslim proselytisers, or presumably, politicians:

The number of nationalist abangan people is so big that they cannot be neglected when propagating the faith.
(Jumlah “abangan-nasionalis” itu sangat besar dan tidak boleh diabaikan untuk berdakwah.)

Muhammadiyah had already dedicated a number of preachers whose job it was to approach the abangan and instruct them in the ways of Islam, he said. antara

Din has been making consistent efforts recently to closen the relationship between Muhammadiyah and PDI-P but he claims this is purely a religious affair, part of Muhammadiyah’s proselytising mission. antara