Career
He was crowned as the sultan at the age of 23 succeeding his father Sultan Syarif Hasyim. Sultan Syarif Kasim II was a supporter of the independence struggle in Indonesia. After Indonesia proclaimed independence, he ceded Siak Sultanate to be part of united Indonesia, and he contributed his wealth of 13 million guilders (equivalent to 151 million guilders or € 69 million euros in 2011). for a number of republican government causes.
Together with the Sultan of Serdang, he also tried to persuade other kings of East Sumatra to join the republic cause.
