Universitas Muhammadiyah Sumatera Utara (UMSU) held a book review entitled ‘Politics of Defense’ by Dr. Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, M.E. Spokesperson for H Prabowo Subianto, Minister of Defense who was elected President of the Republic of Indonesia for the 2024-2029 period—the event, which was opened directly by the Rector, Prof.Dr.Agussani, MAP, was held at the UMSU Campus Auditorium on Jalan Muktar Basri No.3 Medan, Saturday (25/5).
In his presentation, Dahnil said defense is not only military. There are three things in defense theory: the military itself, non-military, and hybrid. “If we talk about non-military, then we also talk about education and culture. Culturally, we are very weak, invaded by outside cultures,” he said.
He also said the challenge that became the center of the most severe attention was drugs, “Drugs are the mother of all crimes and the mother of all weaknesses,” he said.
In addition, one of the challenges of national defense is not only military but non-military. No less serious is the threat from those who have the ability and power over data and information, or in defense terms, a hybrid challenge. “The person with power in this world is not the president, but the person who controls the data,” Dahnil said.
For this reason, defense politics must be able to answer threats to the security and integrity of the state by involving all potential community resources. Policies that refer to the Universal People’s Defense System can be a solution.
Meanwhile, UMSU Rector Prof. Agussani said that this activity was a forum for friendship between Muhammadiyah members and listening to exposure to the contents of Dahnil’s book.
“State defense is UMSU’s commitment to the world of education. Planting the value of nationalism and love for the country at UMSU, starting from the beginning of student lectures by presenting stakeholders to provide national insight,” he said.
He also said that UMSU is ready to support food security policies and the formation of Komcad by the Ministry of Defense.
On this occasion, Prof. Agussani also reported that UMSU and PWM North Sumatra hosted the 2027 Congress. He hoped for support and input from spokesman H Prabowo Subianto as the elected presidential candidate for the 2024-2029 period.
In response, Dr. Dahnil, in his presentation, said he was ready to work together to ensure that the Muhammadiyah Congress in 2027 was successfully held in North Sumatra.
The book review ended with the handover of souvenirs from the UMSU Rector and a group photo.
Present was the Chairperson of the North Sumatra PWM, Prof. Dr. H. Hasyimsyah Nasution, MA, Secretary of the North Sumatra PWA Yuniar R. Yoga, SE, UMSU Daily Governing Board (BPH), UMSU Vice Rectors, DPRD and DPD members of Medan city, Malay Community Leaders, Ulama, PDM / PDM / PCM / OC / Youth Chair / Lecturers and Heads of Institutions at UMSU.
