By: Ahmad Hasan )*
Indonesia has reaffirmed its strategic role in the Islamic world by hosting the 19th Conference of the Parliamentary Union of the OIC Member States (PUIC). This activity is not just a formal diplomatic event between countries, but also an important momentum in building a new narrative about solidarity, independence, and the role of Muslims in the current turbulent global world order.
PUIC, as an organization that brings together parliaments from OIC member countries, is not just a place for legislative deliberation. It is a symbol of the collective aspirations of more than one and a half billion Muslims in the world, spread across various continents and political backgrounds. Therefore, when Indonesia facilitates this conference, its meaning lies not only in the protocol side, but also in its active contribution to strengthening Islamic brotherhood in the dimensions of state and institutions.
Chairman of the DPR Inter-Parliamentary Cooperation Agency (BKSAP), Mardani Ali Sera said that it is important to strengthen collaboration between PUIC member countries in order to shape a more harmonious future for the Islamic world based on justice. This statement was delivered during the Embassy Briefing activity ahead of the 19th PUIC Conference which took place at the Nusantara Building, parliament complex, Senayan, Jakarta.
The conference is scheduled to take place in Jakarta on 12-15 May 2025. On that occasion, Mardani also quoted Surah Al-Hujurat verse 13 from the Quran, which contains a message about the importance of unity and mutual understanding between nations.
With the theme “Good Governance and Strong Institutions as Pillars of Resilience”, Mardani emphasized the urgency of building strong, transparent, and responsible institutions, especially amidst global dynamics full of challenges such as geopolitical conflicts, climate crises, and economic instability.
This conference is also an important forum to discuss a number of strategic issues, including support for the struggle of the Palestinian people, protection of the rights of Muslim minorities in various regions, and encouraging cooperation between developing countries through the South-South Cooperation scheme.
He added that the implementation of this activity is part of BKSAP’s ongoing commitment to strengthening the role of Indonesian parliamentary diplomacy at the global level. According to him, strong solidarity among Islamic countries can be a new force in promoting justice and equality at the international level.
On the other hand, the Secretary General of the Indonesian House of Representatives, Indra Iskandar, emphasized that the Indonesian House of Representatives is almost 100 percent ready to hold the 19th PUIC Conference. He said that all technical aspects and substance of the event have been carefully prepared, including cross-agency coordination to ensure the smooth running of this international event.
The 19th PUIC Conference shows that the strength of Muslims does not lie solely in population size or economic potential, but in the ability to unite a common agenda. In various discussion sessions and bilateral meetings, a number of important issues emerged: from the fate of Palestine, the conflicts in Sudan and Syria, to collective efforts to counter the increasingly strong anti-Islamic narrative in digital spaces. Indonesia is not only a passive host, but also helps direct the discourse towards a more constructive direction.
One important note from this conference is the collective awareness to strengthen Islamic parliamentary diplomacy in facing the dominant narrative of non-Muslim global powers. So far, diplomacy between countries has been too burdened by the interests of the executive and big state actors. By strengthening the legislative dimension, Islamic countries are trying to build a dialogue space that is more open, representative, and responsive to the voices of the people. Forums such as PUIC can be an important arena in formulating joint advocacy strategies in the name of justice, humanity, and the diversity of Islamic culture.
For Indonesia itself, the implementation of this conference reaffirms its free and active foreign policy, as well as its active role in building a more just world civilization. Throughout its history, Indonesia has consistently supported the Palestinian struggle, encouraged peace in the Islamic world, and fought for the economic independence of the people. In forums such as PUIC, all of this is strengthened by real partnerships, not just through statements of solidarity.
As a country with the largest Muslim population in the world, Indonesia can introduce values such as Pancasila, diversity, and religious moderation as alternative models for the pluralistic Islamic world. Indonesia’s success in maintaining harmony between religious communities, although not perfect, remains an inspiration for many Islamic countries struggling to emerge from sectarian conflict. In this context, the PUIC conference in Indonesia is a platformng to emphasize that Islam and democracy can go hand in hand, strengthen each other, and form a just socio-political system.
The 19th PUIC Conference also became a reflection event for Islamic countries to review the position of the ummah in the global arena. Many Muslim countries have great potential but have not been able to become the main actors in the new world order. Through this forum, the discourse on the future of the Islamic world is directed at strengthening the role of the ummah in creating global peace, economic justice, and cultural resilience. Indonesia, with all its strengths and challenges, appears as a moral and political leader who can be a direction-setter for the rise of the global Muslim community.
)* Media and Islamic Opinion Analyst at Markaz Al-Muqawwim
