Lukman Hakim
Lukman Hakim | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Tuban, East Java, Dutch East Indies |
| Died | August 20, 1966 (aged 52) |
| Occupation(s) | Economist, diplomat, politician |
| Years active | 1940s–1966 |
| Known for | Minister of Finance of Indonesia (1948–1950), Governor of Bank Indonesia (1958–1959), Ambassador to West Germany (1961–1966) |
Lukman Hakim (6 June 1914 – 20 August 1966) was an Indonesian economist and diplomat who held the position of Minister of Finance from 1948 until 1950, serving both the Emergency Government of the Republic of Indonesia and the Republic of Indonesia during the United States of Indonesia era. He also occupied prominent financial leadership roles, including that of Governor of Bank Indonesia from 1958 to 1959, and represented Indonesia as Ambassador to West Germany between 1961 and his passing in 1966.
Early life and education
Born in Tuban, East Java on 14 October 1914, Lukman Hakim was the son of Abdoellah Koestoer, a native of Surakarta, and his mother, who hailed from Tuban. His education spanned several cities including Tuban, Surakarta, Yogyakarta, and ultimately Batavia, where he completed a law degree by 1941. During his academic years, he actively led nationalist youth groups such as Indonesia Muda and the Indonesian Students' Association.
Career
Throughout the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies, Hakim was employed at the occupation authorities’ tax offices located in Semarang and Jakarta; however, he did not engage in political activities during this period. Following Indonesia’s declaration of independence, he became involved with the Indonesian National Party and contributed to its economic division under the leadership of Soemanang Soerjowinoto. He was appointed Junior Minister for Finance within the Third Sjahrir Cabinet.
In July 1947, Hakim assumed the role of State Commissioner for Finances in Sumatra. After Operation Kraai, he took on the Minister of Finance portfolio within Sjafruddin Prawiranegara's Emergency Government (PDRI). In this capacity, he tackled currency shortages by managing local currency issuance and personally overseeing the printing of Republican banknotes in Jambi during 1949. When the government relocated back to Yogyakarta (Second Hatta Cabinet), Hakim retained his position as finance minister and continued to serve under both the Susanto Cabinet and Halim Cabinet.
By mid-1956, Hakim was serving as deputy governor at Bank Indonesia, with Sjafruddin Prawiranegara as governor. The Indonesian National Party aimed to replace Prawiranegara with Hakim, who accepted this nomination despite facing opposition. Consequently, Hakim succeeded Prawiranegara as Governor of Bank Indonesia from 1958 through 1959.
On 2 April 1961, Hakim was designated as Indonesia’s Ambassador to West Germany. During his diplomatic tenure, he effectively advocated for continued West German development assistance despite diplomatic pressure from the Netherlands concerning the West New Guinea dispute. He also maintained active support throughout the period of the Indonesia–Malaysia Confrontation. Lukman Hakim passed away on 20 August 1966 while still fulfilling his ambassadorial duties in Bonn.