Abdul Muis

Abdul Muis (also spelt Abdoel Moeis; 1886 – 17 July 1959), was an Indonesian writer, journalist and nationalist. He argued tirelessly for Indonesia's independence from the Netherlands.

Biography

Born in Sungai Puar in West Sumatra in 1886 to a leading member of the Minangkabau, Muis received a western education and studied medicine in Jakarta for three years before being forced to pull out due to ill health. Muis first found employment in the civil service, before switching to journalism and becoming involved in nationalist publications such as Kaoem Moeda, a paper he co-founded in 1912. He became known for his inflammatory articles, which were highly critical of Dutch involvement in Indonesia. For example, essays published in De Express, a Dutch language newspaper, were highly critical of Dutch attitudes towards Indonesians. During the First World War he was active in the movement for greater automony for the Indies, and was a member of a delegation of the Comité Indië Weerbaar (Committee for the Defence of the Indies).