Wakil

Wakil is a term in Indonesian and Malay derived from the Arabic wakīl, meaning agent, proxy, or representative. It denotes a person authorized to act on behalf of another in various contexts, from legal and business affairs to politics and administration. Etymologically, the word is tied to wakālah, the contract of agency in Islamic law, where a mawakkil appoints a wakil to perform acts or transactions on the principal’s behalf. The wakil’s authority is defined by the scope of authorization and may be revocable.

In Islamic jurisprudence the wakil carries duties of loyalty, good faith, and competence; the principal bears responsibility for the wakil’s actions within the authorized remit. In contemporary Indonesia and Malaysia, wakil is used to describe deputy or representative roles. Examples include Wakil Presiden (Vice President), Wakil Gubernur (Vice Governor), Wakil Bupati or Wakil Walikota (vice-regent or vice-mayor), and parliamentary representatives often referred to as wakil rakyat, or simply wakil in reference to members of the Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (DPR) or its equivalents.

The term also intersects with the general concept of representation; perwakilan or perwakilan, though related, can emphasize the act of representation itself, while wakil emphasizes the agent’s role. In legal and customary use, wakil can appear in contracts, power of attorney arrangements, and official titles, reflecting its broad sense as a trusted agent or proxy.