Khouw Kim An

Khouw Kim An, 5th Majoor der Chinezen (; 1875 – February 13, 1945) was a high-ranking Chinese Indonesian bureaucrat, public figure and landlord who served as the fifth and last Majoor der Chinezen ("Major of the Chinese") of Batavia, Dutch East Indies (now Jakarta). The Chinese Mayoralty was the highest-ranking, Chinese government position in the East Indies with considerable political and judicial jurisdiction over the colony's Chinese subjects. The Batavian Mayoralty was one of the oldest public institutions in the Dutch colonial empire, perhaps second only in antiquity to the viceregal post of Governor-General of the Dutch East Indies.

Family and background

Khouw Kim An Sia was born in Batavia in 1875 to the ninth concubine of his father, Khouw Tjeng Tjoan, Luitenant-titulair der Chinezen (died in 1880). The Chinese lieutenancies of Khouw's father, uncles and grandfather were honorary appointments without any of the entailed governmental authority.

Portrait of Majoor Khouw Kim An's grandsons, Yan and Coen (by Charles Sayers, circa 1937).

Khouw Kim An Sia received a traditional Chinese education grounded in the Chinese Classics, and acquired a good grasp of both Mandarin and Hokkien in addition to his native Batavian Malay. Khouw's cousin, O. G. Khouw, also served as Vice-President to Khouw's father-in-law, Phoa Keng Hek Sia, in the latter's capacity as the founding President of Tiong Hoa Hwe Koan. Khouw himself would later play an important role in his father-in-law's organisation.

Chinese mayoralty

In 1905, Khouw was raised to the post of der Chinezen with a seat on the Chinese Council of Batavia. His elevation, while seen as a progressive appointment, nonetheless took place thanks to the influence and family background of both the new Majoor and his wife. As Majoor and head of the Chinese community, Khouw also acted as the ex officio Chair of the Chinese Council of Batavia, and part of the Volksraad (or colonial legislative assembly) of the Dutch East Indies. He maintained close relations with other Chinese members of the Volksraad, such as Hok Hoei Kan and Loa Sek Hie.

In 1918, all Chinese officers, including Khouw, were relieved of their office as part of the government's review of the role of the Chinese officership in the colonial administration. Many community activists had criticised the system of governance by Chinese officers, or 'Indirect Rule', as an archaic relic of feudalism. Khouw, however, remained in the government's good books, and was appointed an Officer of the Order of Orange-Nassau in 1920. Finally, in 1927, Khouw − but not the other Chinese officers − was restored to the Chinese Mayoralty of Batavia, probably thanks to the antiquity and, therefore, the historic and symbolic value of the institution Khouw represented. By then, a lot of the political and legal powers of the Chinese Mayoralty had devolved upon the colonial civil service. Many of the duties of the last Majoor were, consequently, ceremonial in nature.

While on a visit to The Netherlands in 1927, he was received formally at Court by Queen Wilhelmina, and conveyed to the Sovereign the loyal greetings of the Chinese community of the Dutch East Indies. The Majoor celebrated his Silver Jubilee as Chinese Officier on February 10, 1930, on which occasion the Queen conferred upon him the Great Gold Star for Loyalty and Merit (Groote Gouden Ster voor Trouw en Verdienste) in recognition of his long service to the Crown. It was the highest grade, awarded only to the most eminent native chiefs, in what was seen as the colonial counterpart of the Order of the Netherlands Lion.

Second World War and death During the Second World War, the Japanese invaded and occupied the Dutch East Indies. In 1942, Majoor Khouw Kim An was apprehended by the Japanese and imprisoned with other leaders of the Dutch colonial government in Tjimahi. He died in prison on February 13, 1945.

His remains were buried near the famous mausoleum of his cousin, O. G. Khouw, in Petamburan.