Abdoel Hakim

Career After graduating from STOVIA in 1905, Abdoel Hakim was first assigned to his hometown, Padangsidempuan. In 1910, he was reassigned to Binjai and then reassigned to Tanjungpura.

His career in West Sumatra began in 1919, when he was assigned as the head of a local public health department.

In 1921, he was elected as a member of the City Council (Gemeenteraad) of Padang. He was re-elected as a member until 1942 (except from 1934 to 1938, as he was on leave). According to Freek Colombijn, his terms were very vital, as European councillors liked his personality so they were more willing to hear him and other native Indonesian councillors.

In 1923, he was reassigned to Boyolali and Labuhan Deli. In the following year, he was reassigned to Padang where he served as the head of public health department of Padangsche Benedenlanden (Coastal Padang Residency).

In 1931, he was appointed as the Deputy Mayor of Padang following the resignation of the previous deputy mayor. He held this position until 1942, when Japan occupied West Sumatra as part of the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies.

During the First Dutch Military Aggression, Abdoel Hakim was elected by the Dutch as the Mayor of Padang to fill the vacancy after Mayor Bagindo Azizchan was shot on July 19, 1947. As mayor, he supported the federalism of the United States of Indonesia.