PMII DIY Takes Its Movement to the Next Level, Gus Hilmy Calls for Stronger Legal Advocacy and Digital Transformation

03 August 2026 oleh admin

Yogyakarta, dpd.go.id, Member of the House of Regional Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia (DPD RI) representing the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY), Dr. H. Hilmy Muhammad, M.A., attended and officially inaugurated the launch of the Legal Aid Institute (LBH) and website of the PMII DIY Regional Branch Board under the theme “Rooted in Values, Strengthening Legal Advocacy and Digitalizing the Movement.” The event was held at the DPD RI Yogyakarta Representative Office Hall on Sunday (August 2).

Gus Hilmy, as he is popularly known, described the launch of the legal aid institution and digital platform as an important milestone in the transformation of student activism. He said that activism could no longer rely solely on street demonstrations, but needed to be strengthened through systematic legal advocacy and the articulation of ideas in the digital space.

“What is voiced on the streets is extremely important, but it is equally important to ensure that those voices are followed up through formal advocacy channels in air-conditioned rooms like this. The launch of this legal aid institution and website is proof that the PMII DIY movement has truly taken a step forward,” said the senator representing DIY.

Gus Hilmy, who also serves as Katib Syuriyah of the Central Executive Board of Nahdlatul Ulama (PBNU), explained that the push to strengthen legal advocacy stems from the complex challenges still facing law enforcement in Indonesia. These include uneven legal awareness among the public, disparities in access to justice, and the dynamics of law enforcement resulting from a lack of unified understanding among law enforcement agencies regarding the comprehensive enforcement of the law.

These conditions demonstrate that the principle of equality before the law has yet to be fully experienced by all segments of society. Therefore, the establishment of the PMII DIY Regional Branch Legal Aid Institute is considered strategically important as a protective space and a bridge to justice for people seeking legal remedies.

Furthermore, Gus Hilmy, who also serves as a member of the Advisory Council of the PMII DIY Regional Branch, emphasized that PMII carries both Islamic and Indonesian identities as an integral whole. Based on this foundation, he said, PMII’s legal aid institution should not operate solely through the lens of positive law, but should also embrace a framework of civilized and humane justice.

“PMII represents both Islam and Indonesia. Therefore, our legal approach should not stop at positive law alone. We must also be able to accommodate and actualize Islamic values that are compassionate, just, and humane within our advocacy framework. Positive law provides legal certainty, while Islamic and Indonesian values bring a sense of justice and civility,” explained the Yogyakarta-based Krapyak Islamic Boarding School leader.

In addition to legal advocacy, the senator from DIY also expressed his appreciation for the launch of the website as a concrete step toward accelerating the digitalization of the movement. He said digitalization was not merely a complement, but a crucial strategy for young cadres to respond to the challenges of the times, particularly amid declining interest among younger generations in community and student organizations.

“More broadly, digitalizing the movement is an important means for us to adapt to the times. More specifically, we hope this website will provide our PMII colleagues with an opportunity to engage in social media discourse and articulate the concerns of students as they navigate life in the digital era. This is an opportunity for our colleagues to reach out to young people and help them understand how they should process and respond to current issues concerning society, the nation, and religion,” Gus Hilmy said.

Earlier, in his opening remarks, Chairperson of the PMII DIY Regional Branch, Muh Faisal, affirmed his organization’s commitment to moving in this direction. He said the launch of the website and legal aid institution represented two key foundations prepared by PMII DIY to respond to the demands of the times.

“The website is a field of activism that must be cultivated, while the legal aid institution is an important instrument for assisting the mustadh’afin those who are marginalized and vulnerable in obtaining legal certainty,” Faisal emphasized in his opening remarks.

The launch event was also attended by the Legal Aid Institute’s Expert Council member of PMII DIY, Dr. Agus Suprianto, SH., SHI., MSI., CM; Chairperson of the DIY Ansor Legal Aid Institute and Head of the law firm “TAMYUS & PARTNERS,” Tamyus Rochman, S.H.I.; and Head of Cooperation at the PB PMII Legal Aid Institute, Abdul Haris Nepe, S.H. Also present was Director of the PMII DIY Regional Branch Legal Aid Institute, M. Abrori Riki Wahyudi, along with members of the legal aid management team who are ready to carry out their mission.

Concluding the event, Gus Hilmy expressed hope that the PMII DIY legal aid institution and website would not remain merely ceremonial initiatives, but would operate consistently and deliver tangible impacts on law enforcement and the strengthening of social and student movements in Yogyakarta.