Teuku Muhammad Hasan was an Indonesian politician, and the first Governor of Sumatra after Indonesian Independence in 1945, and Deputy Chairman, concurrently Home Affairs, Education & Culture and Religious Affairs ad interim in Sjafruddin Prawiranegara's Indonesia Emergency Cabinet.
Early life
Muhammad Hasan was born on April 4, 1906 as Teuku Sarong, into an aristocratic family in Sigli, Aceh. His father, Teuku Bintara Pineung Ibrahim was an Ulèë Balang in Pidie. He went to Volksschool in Lampoeh Saka from 1914-1917. In 1924 he studied at Dutch-language Europeesche Lagere School, After graduating in 1924, he studied at Koningin Wilhelmina School in Batavia. Then attended Rechtshoogeschool.
Time in the Netherlands
He decided to go to the Netherlands when he was 25 years old, studying Law at Leiden University. During his time in Netherlands, he joined Indonesian student organizationPerhimpunan Indonesia and became an independence activist with another Indonesian students like Mohammad Hatta and Sutan Sjahrir. He graduated as links=no in 1933.
Independence struggle
Teuku Muhammad Hasan returned to Indonesia, and landed in Ulèë LheuëSea Port, Kutaradja in 1934. He was suspected by the Dutch authorities for bringing issues about Indonesian independence movement, and took all his books and other possession. He was active in an Islamic organization Muhammadiyah and education. During this era, they made schools and the woman branch of the organization, Aisyiah. His other education activity was establishing Perguruan Taman Siswa Aceh Chapter in Kutaraja, in 11 Juli 1937. Served as chairman, and with Teuku Nyak Arif as secretary. He made a scholarship foundation Atjehsche Studiefonds for supporting prospective but poor students. He also chaired 'Perkumpulan Usaha Sama Akan Kemajuan Anak with aim to build a school similar to Dutch's Holland Inlandsche School. During the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies , he was the chairman of Koperasi Ladang Pegawai Negeri in Medan He was a member of the Preparatory Committee for Indonesian Independence on August 7, 1945, as the continuation from Investigating Committee for Preparatory Work for Independence. This body was chaired by Sukarno, who declared Indonesian independence on August 17, 1945, two days after Japan surrendered to the Allied Forces at the end of the Pacific War.
Governor of Sumatra
He was appointed by the new created Republic of Indonesia Government as the first Governor of Sumatra on August 22, 1945.
In December 1948, the Dutch launched their second "Police Action" and focused their attack on Yogyakarta. Sukarno and Hatta, instead of running away to fight guerrilla warfare chose to remain in the city and were arrested. Hearing the president was arrested, Mr Sjafruddin Prawiranegara, the Minister of Welfare, who was in Bukit Tinggi met Mr. Teuku Muhammad Hasan/Governor of Sumatera and Colonel Hidayat, Commander of Army and Territory of Sumatera on December 19, 1948. and established Government in Exile dubbed Emergency Government of the Republic of Indonesia, on December 22, 1948, in Bukittinggi, Sumatra. Sjafruddin served as chairman of the emergency cabinet Mr. Teuku Muhammad Hasan was appointed as Deputy Chairman of PDRI, Minister of Home Affairs, Education & Culture and Religious Affairs ad interim. The leaders of the PDRI moved around West Sumatra in an effort to evade arrest by the Dutch who wanted to abolish the PDRI. In 1949 the PDRI government contacted the leaders of Indonesian forces in Java and the six Republic of Indonesia government ministers in Java who had escaped arrest. Based on the Roem–Van Roijen Agreement, on July 13, 1949, Dutch troops were to be pulled out from Republic of Indonesia regions and the Republic of Indonesia leaders were to be freed. The PDRI would therefore no longer be required, and Mr. Sjafruddin Prawiranegara disbanded the PDRI and returned the mandate to the President of RI.
In 1951, as the chairman of Trading and Industry Commission of DPRS, he recommended Oil Companies Nationalization in Indonesia and other mining companies. His motion was accepted on August 2, 1951. This motion resulted nationalization some Dutch Oil Companies into Permina and Pertamin. Both companies were merged in 1968 as Pertamina.
Later life
Mr. Teuku Muhammad Hasan established Serambi Mekkah University in Banda Aceh, and writing books. One of his book is Sejarah Perminyakan di Indonesia. Mr. Teuku Muhammad Hasan died on September 21, 1997 in Jakarta.
Awards and honors
In 1990, University of North Sumatra honored him Doctor Honoris Causa. Mr. Teuku Muhammad Hasan was recognized as National Hero of Indonesia by Republic Indonesia Government with Keputusan Presiden Nomor 085/TK/Tahun 2006 dated November 3, 2006. A street in Banda Aceh is named after his name.
