Every year, July 12 is celebrated as Indonesian Cooperative
Day, honoring the pioneers and contributors to the cooperative movement in
Indonesia. Among these influential figures is Mursia Zaafril Ilyas, a dedicated
advocate for women’s cooperatives and the founder of the Setia Budi Wanita
(SBW) cooperative in Malang, East Java.
Born on January 5, 1925, in Pamekasan, Madura, Mursia was
the fourth of eight children and fondly called “Iya” by her family. Her
marriage to Zaafril Ilyas, an obstetrician, added “Zaafril Ilyas” to her name,
and her husband called her “Mur.” They had four children together.
Mursia’s journey into the world of cooperatives was
significantly influenced by her close association with notable socialist
figures like Sutan Sjahrir and Djohan Sjahroezah. It was Sjahrir who inspired
her to establish a cooperative. According to Purnawijayanti in Basis magazine’s
March-April 2009 edition, Sjahrir’s pivotal message to Mursia was: “If you
think and want to take a step, put aside personal interests; prioritize the
interests of many. Don’t be afraid you won’t have food; you will surely eat.”
In 1954, Mursia gathered a group of women in Malang to form
a rotating savings group, which initially had 17 members. This small initiative
quickly grew, and within four years, the Setia Budi Wanita (SBW) cooperative
officially became established with a membership of 2,000 women. The cooperative
operated on a system called Tanggung Renteng, which emphasized shared
responsibility among all members for any loans taken by cooperative members.
This system promoted mutual assistance, aligning with the Javanese concept of
tepa slira.
SBW’s membership included women from various professional
and educational backgrounds, from street vendors and domestic workers to
primary school graduates and those with master’s degrees. The cooperative
provided numerous services, including savings and loans, skills training,
household economic management, and scholarships. It also facilitated financial
transfers from overseas workers to their families in Malang.
Mursia’s commitment to the cooperative movement was not
without challenges. In 1964, she was accused by the Indonesian Communist Party
(PKI) of participating in the anti-Sukarno movement and imprisoned at Bukit
Duri, Jakarta. Despite these unfounded accusations, Mursia’s dedication to the
cooperative movement remained unwavering.
In the 1980s, SBW faced financial difficulties due to the
actions of Warcih, the cooperative’s finance manager, who abused his authority
by granting unsecured loans to acquaintances, resulting in significant losses.
By 1984, Mursia was unjustly dragged into court. Although she was eventually
acquitted, the cooperative’s membership and capital significantly decreased.
Yet, Mursia did not give up. She secured financial assistance from the United
States Agency for International Development (USAID), allowing SBW to recover
and continue its mission.
Mursia’s dedication to the cooperative movement did not go
unnoticed. In 1961, her achievements earned her an invitation from the British
government to observe social projects in the UK. After overcoming the financial
crisis, she was appointed chairperson of the Women’s Cooperative Union
(Inkowan) for the 1991–1996 term. In 1993, she received the Satya Lencana
Pembangunan award from President Soeharto for her contributions to women’s
cooperatives in Indonesia.
Reflecting on her contributions, Mursia expressed her belief
in the value of cooperatives, stating, “People can rely on cooperatives because
cooperatives never abandon the people.” Her legacy is a testament to the power
of community and mutual assistance, and her contributions continue to inspire
the cooperative movement in Indonesia today.
As we celebrate Indonesian Cooperative Day, we honor the
memory and legacy of Mursia Zaafril Ilyas, whose dedication and perseverance
have left an indelible mark on the cooperative movement and women’s empowerment
in Indonesia.
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