Abdul Hakim Harahap

Abdul Hakim Harahap (15 July 1905 – 7 October 1961) was an Indonesian politician who held various positions, including deputy prime minister, in the 1950s.

Born in Sarolangun from a Batak father and mom, Abdul Hakim Harahap was employed in the customs and excises office after finishing his studies at the Prins Hendrikschool.

After the Indonesian independence, he was appointed as the member of the People's Representative Council of North Sumatra,.

Harahap was born on 15 July 1905 in Sarolangun, Jambi.

He was the son of Mangaradja Gading, a Batak civil employee.

He was the second child of the six.

After Harahap's birth, Mangaradja Gading moved to the Jambi city.

In the city, Mangaradja Gading enlisted Harahap to the Europeesche Lagere School (ELS, European Primary School) in 1914, to follow his older brother that had already study there.

He only studied for two years there, as his father was transferred to the city of Sibolga in 1916.

In Sibolga, Mangaradja Gading was still employed as a civil employee, but with a higher rank.

Abdul Hakim continued his ELS at Sibolga.

He graduated from the school in 1920, and continued studying at the Meer Uitgebreid Lager Onderwijs (literally Extensive Primary Education, equal to Junior High School).

He graduated from the school in 1924, and went to the Prins Hendrikschool (Prince Hendrik School, high school for economy) until 1926.

During this time, he was involved in the nationalist movements in the Dutch East Indies, such as Jong Islamieten Bond (Young Islamic Association), Jong Batak Bond (Young Bataks) and Jong Sumatra Bond (Young Sumatran Association).

After his graduation from the Prins Hendrikschool, he briefly took a course about customs and excises.

After completing the course, in 1927, he was employed at the customs and excises office in Medan.

During his time in Medan, he stood as the candidate for the alderman of the MedanGementeraad (municipal assembly) election in 1930.

He was elected to the council, obtaining 131 votes out of 408.

He was elected again in 1934, this time obtaining 365 votes.

Alongside his job as an alderman of the Gementeraad, he opened French and English lessons.

He also contributed to the funding of several central markets and public hospitals.

He resigned from the position in 1937, after being transferred to Batavia to work as a functionary in the Department of Finance.

In Batavia, he met with his old colleagues from the Jong Batak organization.

They discussed how their homeland in North Sumatra, Tapanuli, was less developed than East Sumatra, due to the Bataks living in Tapanuli opted to start their career in Medan, East Sumatra.

Thus, the Committee for the Development of Tapanuli was set up, with Harahap being one of its members.

In 1941, due to the oncoming Japanese threat to the Dutch East Indies, Harahap was appointed as the deputy head of the financial department in Pontianak.

He was moved to Makassar 6 months later with the same position.

After the Japanese occupation, he was still employed by the Japanese in his previous position, only with a different name.

The Department of Finance has changed the name to the Kosei Kyoku and Kaikeikyoku (Bureau of Welfare and Finance).

Due to his proficient job, he was transferred to Tarutung, the capital of Tapanuli, as the secretary of the Tapanuli Council.

After the independence of Indonesia, he joined the Masyumi Party.

Shortly after, he was appointed by the Resident of Tapanuli, Ferdinand Lumbantobing, as the deputy resident of Tapanuli.

He was tasked by Lumbantobing to handle political and economic task.

In his capacity, he began printing the "Money of the Republic of Indonesia for Tapanuli" (ORITA, Oeang Republik Indonesia Tapanoeli) as a way to maintain financial stability in the residency.

The money was printed by hand, but the signature was manually signed.

Initially, Harahap himself signed the money, but after being tired of signing all of the money, he tasked his aide with the job.

Due to the successful monetary system that Harahap has created, Mohammad Hatta, the vice president of Indonesia, appointed him as the resident of Riau.

As there was no running government in Riau, he refused the appointment, stating that he "didn't want to govern a place without any government".

Hatta threatened to remove Harahap from his position if he didn't accepted the appointment.

He still didn't accepted the appointment, so he was removed from the position.