Azwar Anas

For the regent, see Abdullah Azwar Anas.

In this Indonesian name, there is no family name. The name Anas is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by the given name, Azwar.

Ir. Haji Azwar Anas gelar Datuk Rajo Suleman
Official portrait, c. 1982
8th Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare
In office 17 March 1993 – 16 March 1998
President	Suharto
Preceded by	Soepardjo Rustam
Succeeded by	Haryono Suyono
27th Minister of Transportation
In office 23 March 1988 – 17 March 1993
President	Suharto
Preceded by	Rusmin Nuryadin
Succeeded by	Haryanto Dhanutirto
4th Governor of West Sumatra
In office 18 October 1977 – 30 October 1987
Preceded by	Harun Zain
Succeeded by	Hasan Basri Durin
Personal details
Born	Azwar Anas (1931-08-02)2 August 1931 Padang, Dutch East Indies
Died	5 March 2023(2023-03-05) (aged 91) Jakarta, Indonesia
Nationality	Indonesian
Political party	Golkar (Golongan Karya)
Spouse	Djusmeini
Children	5
Parents	Anas Malik Sutan Masabumi (father) Rakena Anas (mother)
Alma mater	Bandung Institute of Technology Syracuse University
Occupation	Politician bureaucrat military officer

Azwar Anas gelar Datuk Rajo Suleman (2 August 1931 – 5 March 2023), more colloquially referred to as Pak Anas, was an Indonesian politician, bureaucrat, and military officer. A member of the Golkar political party, he served in a number of positions during President Suharto's New Order regime. During his career in government, he served as the coordinating minister for people's welfare, minister of transportation, and governor of the province of West Sumatra.

Born in Padang, in what was then the West Sumatra Residency, he graduated from the Bandung Institute of Technology in 1959, and attended Syracuse University that same year. He then joined the military, and underwent military training at the Reserve Officers School in Bogor. After graduating he was appointed by President Sukarno as a first lieutenant. During his time in the military, he became the director of Semen Padang.

In 1977, he was elected as the governor of West Sumatra, following the end of Harun Zain's term. He served as governor for two terms, from 1977 until 1987. As governor, he was known for his religiosity and was popular among many West Sumatrans. After leaving the office of governor, he continued to serve in government. In 1988, he was appointed minister of transportation and later he was appointed the General Chair of the Football Association of Indonesia (PSSI) in 1991. Two years later, Azwar was appointed coordinating minister for people's welfare, before eventually leaving government in 1998.

Death

Azwar Anas died of respiratory illness in the CICU of Gatot Soebroto Army Hospital, Central Jakarta, on March 5 2023, at 11.42 WIB at the age of 89 years after undergoing treatment for two months. His body was buried with a military ceremony the next day at Kalibata Heroes Cemetery led by Abdullah Mahmud Hendropriyono.

Honours

National

• Indonesia
  • Star of Mahaputera, (2nd Class) (Indonesian: Bintang Mahaputera Adipradana) (1992)
  • Star of Mahaputera, (3rd Class) (Indonesian: Bintang Mahaputera Utama) (1986)

Foreign honours

• Austria
  • Grand Decoration of Honour in Silver with Star of the Decoration of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria (1996)
• Malaysia
  • Negeri Sembilan
    • Principal Grand Knight of the Order of Loyalty to Negeri Sembilan (SUNS) – Dato' Seri Utama