Hometown Personalities: Past and Present – Anwar Fazal

My Hometown is proud to present a new series by Tamanna Patel, MyHometown Associate

The series will provide viewers with biographical essays of key individuals and organizations that have left their mark on the state which they have been associated with, as well as on the country at large.

The series will provide new or relatively unknown information and is intended to pay tribute to their contributions in whatever field of life and society in which they have earned recognition whether this is in public or professional life, business, politics, science and technology, education, socio-cultural development, arts and music, the environment, etc.

Initially focusing on Penang state, the series will feature the HT personalities from other states later on.

 Anwar Fazal: Right Livelihood Award Winner With a Passion for History

(picture credit: MultiversityInternational)

Born in 1941, Dato Seri Anwar Fazal hails from a small kampung called Sungei Bayor in Perak. His family moved to rainy Taiping a few years later amidst World War 2 in 1944. Here Anwar spent his formative and teenage years exploring the beauty of the lake gardens, mangroves, and Larut hill, growing his appreciation of local nature and ecology.

In 1957, Anwar moved to Penang with his family. Anwar attended Penang Free School and his best in Form 6 results in the state landed him at University of Malaya in 1961. There he studied Business Administration and went on to pursue a postgraduate degree in education. He attributes his later success to his higher education, “…being exposed to excellence in Administration and Education. These two areas were so central for the rest of my life. Lifelong learning and good management skills always helped me”

But the catalyst that would really spark the inspiration for his numerous contributions to civil society was attending the International Student Conference in Quebec, Canada in 1962. This experience opened his eyes to the world of activism, human rights, peace, justice and universalism.

(picture credit: Penang Institute)

In Penang he took a job as Assistant City Secretary in the City Council of Georgetown in 1965. which was headed by the Socialist Front. About his time there he says, “I learnt about genuinely serving the people.”

In 1969 Anwar found himself as the private secretary to Dr. Lim Chong Eu, the then Chief Minister of Penang. While carrying out his duties as a civil servant, he quietly began his career as a serial activist. In 1969 he started the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP) which advocates for sustainable policies and consumer rights and is active on any issue that affects the well-being of the populace directly or indirectly such as environmental management or farming methods.

By 1974, he was working with the Penang Development Corp, where he played a role in bringing in global companies such as Motorola, but he was “frustrated with some mega development” and decided to leave. That marked the beginning of what is now his lifelong attachment to civil society movements.

In 1982, Anwar won the Right Livelihood Award, which is awarded to change-makers who contribute to social change with practical solutions in the areas of peace, justice, and sustainability.

Here’s a snapshot of where Anwar has left his mark:

1. In the 1990s, he introduced the Sustainable Penang Initiative (SPI) which sprouted community based initiatives such as Water Watch Penang (WWP).
2. He made Penang the headquarters for the World Alliance for Breastfeeding Action. What’s that about? Check out waba.org.my for more information.
3. He played a key role in initiating the development of Youth Park in Penang including the establishment of the skating and skateboarding rinks and archery field.
4. He mooted the idea of Harmony Street in George Town.  Today Pitt Street in the core heritage zone is popularly referred to as such.
5. In his love for Penang and history, has also collated significant, and noteworthy dates in the State’s history which can be found at this website: PenangPedia.wordpress.com.
6. Most recently, he founded the Wu Lien Teh Society dedicated to the Penangite who is said to have invented the medical face mask, and who shot to posthumous fame via the Google doodle.

At a spritely 81, if you ever meet Dato Seri’ Anwar Fazal, you will realize that despite his contributions he is as humble as ever and generous with his time, attention, and willingness to share what he has come to learn and understand about Penang, its history, its people, its development, and its future.

If you’re curious to learn more about Dato Seri’ Anwar Fazal check out his website