Tan Sri Haji Dato' Anwar bin Abdul Malik was a Malaysian Politician (1898- 1998).
He was the man credited with giving United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) its name. After the second world war, the Malayan Union was formed by the British and it was strongly opposed by the Malays. Realizing the situation, Anwar had the idea of getting all the Malay parties united under one party that will be strong enough to oppose the Malayan Union. With Haji Syed Alwi bin Syed Sheikh al-Hadi and Syed Abdul Kadir Mohamad, Anwar took a lift in a medical van from the Sultanah Aminah Hospital in Johor Bahru to Batu Pahat to meet the District Officer, Dato' Onn Jaafar. After much discussion, Onn Jaafar agreed to his ideas and that night he wrote a letter to the Malay newspaper, Utusan Melayu calling for a meeting of all the Malay parties. It was also agreed that Onn Jaafar should lead the new party. A series of Malay congresses were held, culminating in the formation of the nationalist party, United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) on May 11, 1946 at the Third Malay Congress in Johor Bahru. UMNO strongly opposed the Malayan Union, but originally did not seek political power. UMNO was comfortable with continuing to play its supporting role to the British rulers. The leaders cooperated with the British and helped to defeat the communist insurgency.
A few years later when Dato' Onn Jaafar became Menteri Besar of Johor, Anwar became his private secretary. After retirement in 1954, Anwar sat on many boards — all in a voluntary capacity. He would help the poor and needy irrespective of race
Anwar was born in Muar, Johor in 1898. His father, Hajji Abdul Malik was a Syariah lawyer. Anwar has mixed blood including, Ethiopian from his grandmother, Arabic from his grandfather and Javanese blood from his mother.
Anwar married his first wife and together conceived 3 children, Shukriah Anwar, Mohamad Hifni Anwar and Marina Anwar.
When Anwar's wife passed away, he married Saodah Abdullah. They had 3 children, Tan Sri Datuk Zarinah Anwar (1953), the chairman of the Malaysian Securities Commission, Zainah Anwar (1954), a prominent Malaysian non-governmental organisation leader and activist of Sisters in Islam and Ahmad Zakii Anwar (1955), a well-known Malaysian artist.
Haji Anwar gave out his last breath in 1998 just two months before his 100th birthday. His wife, Saodah Abdullah died the following year at the age of 78. Anwar was buried at Mahmoodiah Muslim Cemetery in front of the Royal Mahmoodiah Mausoleum or Makam Mahmoodiah
Anwar has also been awarded medals for his services to the country. Some of the awards include: