1985 in Malaysia

Decades:	1960s ; 1970s ; 1980s ; 1990s ; 2000s ;
See also:	Other events of 1985 ; History of Malaysia • Timeline • Years

Last updated May 14, 2025

This article lists important figures and events in Malaysian public affairs during the year 1985, together with births and deaths of notable Malaysians.

Incumbent political figures

Federal level

State level

Sultan of Johor: Tunku Ibrahim Ismail (Regent)
Sultan of Kedah: Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah
Sultan of Kelantan: Sultan Ismail Petra
Raja of Perlis: Tuanku Syed Putra
Sultan of Perak: Sultan Azlan Shah (Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong)
Sultan of Pahang: Sultan Ahmad Shah
Sultan of Selangor: Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah
Sultan of Terengganu: Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah
Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan: Tuanku Jaafar
Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Penang: Tun Dr Awang Hassan
Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Malacca: Tun Syed Ahmad Al-Haj bin Syed Mahmud Shahabuddin
Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Sarawak:
- Tun Abdul Rahman Ya'kub (until February)
- Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce Mohammed Noor (from February)
Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Sabah: Tun Mohd Adnan Robert

Events

January - Tunku Osman Becomes Tunku Johore.
11 January – The Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak (KOMTAR) in Penang, at the time the tallest building in Southeast Asia, was officially opened by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
30 March – The Malaysian Parliament celebrated the 25th anniversary of its formation.
April – The first Belilah Barangan Buatan Malaysia (Made in Malaysia) campaign was launched.
1 June -- TV3's 1st Anniversary 1985 Ulang Tahun Pertama TV3
2 June – Malaysia's first teletext service, Beriteks was launched.
8 July – The new Tabung Haji building at Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur was officially opened by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
10 July – The first Malaysian national car Proton Saga was officially launched by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad with the first cars coming off from the production line in July 9.^[1]
2 August – Official opening ceremony of the Penang Bridge by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. He drove across the bridge in a red Proton Saga carrying the national flag to officiate the opening ceremony.
31 August – The Proclamation of Independence Memorial (formerly The Malacca Club) in Malacca Town, Malacca was officially opened by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad.
2 September – Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah of Selangor celebrated the silver jubilee (25th anniversary) of his throne.
2 September – The Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), Malaysia's first convention and exhibition centre, was officially opened by Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad and the 1985 UMNO General Assembly was held in Dewan Merdeka, PWTC for the first time.
14 September – The Penang Bridge officially opened to traffic.^[2]
19 November – The Memali Incident took place in the remote village of Memali near Baling, Kedah. About 14 civilians and four policemen were killed, including Islamic sect leader, Ibrahim Mahmud (Ibrahim Libya).
9 December – Sultan Azlan Shah was installed as the 34th Sultan of Perak.

Births

7 February - Dina Nadzir, singer
7 July – Zulkifli Che Ros, weightlifter
26 September – Cameron Tovey, Malaysian-Australian basketball player
18 September – Koo Kien Keat – Badminton player
11 December – Siow Yi Ting – Swimmer^[3]

Deaths

2 March – Tan Sri Runme Shaw, Chairman and founder of the Shaw Organisation of Singapore (b. 1901)
9 July – Muhammad Jusoh, 8th Menteri Besar of Pahang (b. 1912)
9 September – Tan Sri Yaacob Abdul Latiff, 2nd Mayor of Kuala Lumpur (b. 1918)
3 November – Tan Tong Hye, former Secretary-General of the Malaysian Chinese Association (b. 1914)
14 December – Tun Sardon Jubir, 2nd Minister of Communications and 4th Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Penang (b. 1917)
18 December – Lim Lian Geok, Malaysian-Chinese educator (b. 1901)

References

↑ Seng, Alan Teh Leam (19 August 2019). "A Saga that continues to this day | New Straits Times". NST Online. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
↑ "Penang's ferries to ride the waves again as visitor attractions". South China Morning Post. 8 August 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
↑ Selvam, S (31 August 2000). "Small fish in an Ocean". New Straits Times. Retrieved 24 February 2024.

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[1] Seng, Alan Teh Leam (19 August 2019). "A Saga that continues to this day | New Straits Times". NST Online. Retrieved 24 February 2024.

[2] "Penang's ferries to ride the waves again as visitor attractions". South China Morning Post. 8 August 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2024.

[3] Selvam, S (31 August 2000). "Small fish in an Ocean". New Straits Times. Retrieved 24 February 2024.

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v t e Years in Malaysia
Malaysia was only formed on September 16, 1963. Prior to that date, Peninsular Malaysia was known as Malaya, Sarawak under Crown Colony of Sarawak and Kingdom of Sarawak and Sabah under North Borneo.
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