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This is a timeline of Malaysian history, comprising important legal and territorial changes and political events in Malaysia and its predecessor states. To read about the background to these events, see History of Malaysia.
Year | Event |
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200 | Ancient Hindu Malay kingdom of Langkasuka was founded by Merong Mahawangsa, a descendant of Alexander the Great or Dhul-Qarnayn. |
Ancient Hindu Malay kingdom of Gangga Negara was founded by Ganji Sarjuna, a son of Merong Mahawangsa. |
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Year | Event |
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400 | Emergence of Kedah Tua civilization began with the involvement of the community in Guar Kepah conducting trade with foreign traders in Sungai Mas. The center of the civilization was in Sungai Mas and Pangkalan Bujang. |
Gangga Negara also served as a port, frequented by foreign traders for its rich natural resources such as gold and tin. |
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Year | Event |
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630 | Hindu Malay Kingdom of Kedah was founded by Maharaja Derbar Raja of Persia. |
671 | I-tsing visited Kedah and Srivijaya on his way to India from China. [1] |
682 | I-tsing returned to Kedah and Srivijaya on his way back from India to China. He described the Malays at the time as having high status in regards to controlling the economy and its kingdom's entry points. |
700 | Malay Peninsula was under the dominance of the Buddhist Malay Srivijaya, based in Palembang. [2] |
Sawaku Kingdom was founded by Datu Merpati near Santubong and Sarawak River, while Samadong Kingdom was founded near Samarahan and Sadong. |
Year | Event |
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750 | Srivijaya attacked Langkasuka and succeeded in conquering the kingdom. |
775 | King of Srivijaya married a princess of Langkasuka and made Ligor as his capital. |
Year | Event |
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850 | Gangga Negara managed to defend its sovereignty from Srivijaya invasion. |
890 | Klang Kio attacked and defeated Gangga Negara but withdrew after its ruler, Bolaputra married a princess of Gangga Negara. |
Year | Event |
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1025 | Chola army invasion from southern India weakened the trades in Kedah and Gangga Negara. |
1100 | Melano Kingdom was founded by Tugau near Sungai Retus. |
Year | Event |
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1136 | Phra Ong Mahawangsa converted to Islam and founded the Kedah Sultanate, so ending the practice of Hinduism in the dynasty. |
Year | Event |
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1245 | Sang Sapurba, a legendary great ancestor of major dynasties in the Malay world, also a descendant of Alexander the Great or Dhul-Qarnayn, enters into a sacred covenant with Demang Lebar Daun, the ruler of Palembang, and subsequently laid the basis of the proper relationship between the Malay rulers and the subjects. |
1260 | Minangkabau journeyed to Malay Peninsula. |
1280 | Siamese had begun to occupy the northern Malay Peninsula. Negara Sri Dharmaraja and Patani, became Siamese vassals. |
1299 | Kingdom of Singapura was founded by Sang Nila Utama, a son of Sang Sapurba. |
Year | Event |
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1303 | Islam reached Terengganu, proven by the discovery of the Terengganu Inscription Stone in Kuala Berang. It was also the earliest evidence of Jawi writing in the Malay world. |
1330 | The Chinese traveller Wang Dayuan visited Singapura and records an attack by Siam, recording it down alongside Long Ya Men and Ban Zu. |
1360 | Singapura Kingdom attacked and defeated by the Hindu Buddhist Javanese Kingdom of Majapahit |
1362 | Badang, a legendary Malay strongman was elected as the Hulubalang of Singapura |
1363 | Brunei Sultanate was established, when the Sultan of Brunei married with a princess of Singapura and converted to Islam |
1398 | Parameswara, a prince of Srivijaya, the last king of Singapura flees from Singapura. |
Year | Event |
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1400 | Malacca Kingdom was founded by Parameswara, the last king of Singapura. |
1403 | Chinese admiral Yin Ching reached Malacca, establishing diplomatic ties between China and Malacca. |
The first Malay-Chinese dictionary was complied in Chinese characters containing about 500 words related to trade used in Malacca. | |
1409 | Chinese admiral Cheng Ho reached Malacca, strengthening diplomatic ties between China and Malacca. |
1414 | Malacca established diplomatic ties with Pasai, when Megat Iskandar Shah married a princess of Pasai and converted to Islam. |
1444 | Hang Tuah, the legendary Malaccan Laksamana was born in Malacca. |
1445 | Tun Perak, the Penghulu of Klang, led the Malaccan army to victory by defeating Siamese invaders in Muar. |
1450 | Sharif ul-Hashim, arrived in Sulu from Malacca, married a daughter of Raja Baginda, and founded Sultanate of Sulu. |
1451 | Malacca become the center of Islam in southeast Asia. |
1456 | Tun Perak once again led the Malaccan army to victory by defeating Siamese invaders in Batu Pahat. He was then made Bendahara of Malacca. |
1459 | Emperor of China sent away his daughter Hang Li Po and 500 followers as a gift to Sultan Mansur Shah. Sultan Mansur Shah established Bukit Cina as a settlement for the Chinese. |
1463 | Malacca established diplomatic ties with Ryukyu. Ryukyu traders are highly respected in Malacca because they were honest and well behaved. |
1470 | Tun Besar, a son of Tun Perak was killed because he had accidentally displaced Raja Muhammad's destar, a prince of Malacca. |
Raja Muhammad was exiled to Pahang and founded the Pahang Sultanate. |
Year | Date | Event |
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1509 | 11 September | Diogo Lopes de Sequeira, the first European to reach the Far East, arrived in Malacca. |
1511 | 24 August | Malacca comes under Portuguese rule after falling to an army led by Alfonso de Albuquerque. |
November | Flor de la Mar, carrying a large treasure trove from Malacca, sank near Sumatran coast. | |
Panglima Awang was acquired as a slave by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan | ||
1512 | Fortress of Malacca, the oldest European architectural remains in the Far East was built in Malacca. | |
The first Portuguese expedition was sent eastward from Malacca to search for the Spice Islands led by Francisco Serrão. | ||
1521 | 21 April | Magellan Expedition was received with hostility by the Mactan natives, led by Lapu-Lapu. Panglima Awang was believed to have left Mactan and made his way back to the Malay Peninsula, thus becoming the first person in recorded history to circumnavigate the world. |
Brunei was visited by Magellan Expedition. | ||
Church of Saint Paul was built, the oldest church building in Southeast Asia. | ||
1522 | The first Malay-Italian dictionary was complied by Antonio Pigafetta, who accompanied Ferdinand Magellan circled the globe. The dictionary contains about 426 words related to trade used in Moluccas. | |
1528 | Johor Sultanate was founded by Raja Alauddin, son of Mahmud Shah, the last king of Malacca. | |
Perak Sultanate was founded by Raja Muzaffar, also a son of Mahmud Shah. | ||
1540 | Luak Rembau was founded. | |
1545 | Francis Xavier arrived in Malacca and devoted much of his life to missions in Asia especially in Malacca and Maluku Islands. | |
1547 | Francis Xavier met a Japanese man named Anjirō who had travelled from Kagoshima to Malacca to meet him and become the first Japanese Christian | |
1548 | Francis Xavier established a school in the premises of the chapel known as Church of Saint Paul | |
Cik Siti Wan Kembang rules Kelantan. | ||
1563 | Kota Jelasin was built for Cik Siti Wan Kembang and her adopted daughter, Puteri Saadong. | |
Manuel Godinho de Erédia, Malay-Portuguese writer and cartographer of early Malay Peninsula was born in Malacca. | ||
1577 | Sultan Mansur Shah was abducted by the Acehnese forces. Acehnese forces captured the Sultan's widow and children, brought them back to Aceh. | |
Raja Alauddin, a prince of Perak was married to an Acehnese princess and installed as the Sultan of Aceh. | ||
Perak nobles journeyed to Acehnese and requested Alauddin Mansur Syah for a successor. He sent his brother to become Perak's monarch to maintain the unbroken Malacca dynasty lineage. | ||
1578 | Castilian War : War broke out between Brunei and Spain in Borneo and Mindanao. | |
Sulu Sultanate gained its independence from Brunei. | ||
1594 | Perak rotational succession system among members of the royal family began. | |
1598 | Raja Tengah, accepted the offer by the Sultan of Brunei to be the Sultan of Sarawak |
Year | Date | Event |
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1603 | 25 February | Dutch led by Jacob van Heemskerk with the assistance of Johor, seized the Portuguese merchant vessel, Santa Catarina off the coast of Singapore. |
Malay-Dutch vocabulary, the earliest Malay book printed in Europe was published by Frederick de Houtman in Amsterdam. | ||
1612 | Sejarah Melayu was composed by Tun Sri Lanang, the Bendahara of Johor. | |
1613 | Aceh attacked Johor in Batu Sawar. Tun Sri Lanang was captured and taken to Aceh. | |
1614 | Pahang ruled by Johor. | |
1635 | Raja Kuning of Patani married the Yang di-Pertuan Muda of Johor. | |
1636 | Perak nobles turned to Sultan Iskandar Thani of Aceh who sent his relative, Raja Sulong, to be the sultan of Perak because the previous sultan died without an heir and many royal family members died due to an epidemic that swept through the sultanate. Raja Sulong was a prince of Siak and was not genealogically linked to Perak royalty on his father's side. | |
1641 | Dutch with the help from Johor, conquered Malacca from the Portuguese. Hikayat Hang Tuah was composed by an unknown writer from Johor after the Portuguese defeat in Malacca. | |
1644 | Tarian Asyik was created to comfort the mourning Raja Kuning after the loss of her beloved bird. | |
1650 | Kelantan become a part of the Patani founded by Raja Sakti I. | |
1653 | Kota Sena was established by Muhyiddin Mansur Shah as a capital of Kedah. | |
1660 | Brunei Civil War: Started over disagreement between the son of the Sultan of Brunei, Pengiran Muda Bongsu and Pengiran Muda Alam, the son of Pengiran Abdul Mubin over the results of a cockfight which Pengiran Muda Bungsu lost. | |
1666 | September | Kedah was under Thai sovereignty. |
1667 | Puteri Saadong ruled the territory of Kota Jelasin. | |
1670 | Kelantan split into two, Kelantan Barat (center in Kota Kubang Labu) and Kelantan Timur (center in Kota Pangkalan Datu). | |
1671 | Puteri Saadong managed to heal the King Narai of Siam, who promised her freedom if she able heal his disease. Puteri Saadong return to Kota Jelasin and killed her husband, Raja Abdullah, who remarried with another princess. | |
1673 | Johor-Jambi war: Jambi attacked Johor in Johor Lama. | |
Brunei Civil War: Eastern part of Sabah was given to Sulu as the reward for assisting the Muhyiddin's forces. | ||
1679 | Johor-Jambi war: Tun Abdul Jamil defeated Jambi, so ending the Johor-Jambi war. | |
1699 | Tun Abdul Jalil, the Bendahara of Johor was elected as the Sultan of Johor, after the dead of "Sultan Mahmud Mangkat Dijulang". |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
1700 | Luak Sungai Ujong was founded. | |
1701 | First original Malay-English dictionary by Thomas Bowrey was printed in London. | |
1704 | Sultan of Brunei cedes the lands east of Marudu Bay to the Sultanate of Sulu. | |
1708 | Terengganu Sultanate was founded by Zainal Abidin I, son of Tun Habib Abdul Majid, the Bendahara of Johor. | |
1718 | Abdul Jalil Shah IV was overthrown by Raja Kecik from Siak and was supported by Minangkabau forces. | |
1722 | Raja Sulaiman, a son of Abdul Jalil Shah IV overthrown by Raja Kecik with help of five Bugis warrior – Daeng Parani, Daeng Marewah, Daeng Chelak, Daeng Menambun, and Daeng Kamasi. | |
Daeng Marewah was elected as the first Yang di-Pertuan Muda of Johor. | ||
1750 | Luak Teraci was founded, under the suzerainty of Sungai Ujong. | |
Luak Gunung Pasir was founded, under the suzerainty of Rembau. | ||
Luak Ulu Muar was founded, under the suzerainty of Johol. | ||
Luak Jempol was founded, under the suzerainty of Jelebu. | ||
Luak Inas (Jelai) was founded. | ||
1757 | Tun Abdul Jamal was elected as the first Temenggong of Johor, direct ancestor to the House of Temenggong. | |
1762 | Long Yunus, a prince from Kota Kubang Labu succeeded in uniting both Kelantan Barat and Kelantan Timur. | |
1766 | Selangor Sultanate was founded by Raja Lumu, son of Daeng Chelak, the Yang di-Pertuan Muda of Johor. | |
1767 | Kedah was under Burmese sovereignty after the fall of Ayutthaya | |
1769 | Kedah once again was under Thai sovereignty. | |
1770 | Penghulu Luak of Sungai Ujong, Jelebu, Johol and Rembau invited a prince of the Minangkabau in Sumatra to rule Negeri Sembilan. | |
1773 | Negeri Sembilan established as a confederation of nine states, with Raja Melewar as its first Yamtuan Besar. | |
1784 | Raja Haji Fisabilillah, the Yang di-Pertuan Muda of Johor, led a series of raids against the Dutch in Malacca and died at Teluk Ketapang. | |
1786 | 11 August | Penang was founded by Francis Light and was named "Prince of Wales Island" |
1795 | Administration of Malacca was given to British following the Kew Letters. | |
1796 | Abdullah bin Abdul Kadir, the father of modern Malay literature was born in Malacca | |
1800 | Seberang Perai was ceded to Penang and was named "Province Wellesley" |
Year | Date | Event |
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1807 | Fortress of Malacca was almost totally demolished but was saved by Stamford Raffles. | |
1808 | Raja Ali Haji, a grandson of Raja Haji Fisabilillah was born in Selangor or Johor-Pahang-Riau-Lingga. He as a scholar and historian, led a renaissance of Malay letters. | |
1809 | June | Kedah helped Siam during the Burmese invasion of Tanjung Salang |
1811 | Malay gamelan was first performed in public in Pekan during the wedding ceremony of Tengku Hussain, the son of Sultan Mahmud Shah of Johor-Pahang-Riau-Lingga, with Wan Esah, a sister of Raja Bendahara Tun Ali of Pahang. | |
Sultan Mahmud Shah died in Lingga, the throne of Johor-Pahang-Riau-Lingga went instead to Tengku Jummat, whose was supported by the Bugis in Lingga but opposed by the Malay chiefs in Riau and Pahang who were supporters of Tengku Hussain | ||
1816 | Sekolah Melayu Gelugor was established in Penang, the first Malay school. | |
Penang Free School was built in Penang, the first English school. | ||
1818 | Malacca was once again ruled by the Dutch following the end of the Napoleonic Wars | |
1819 | 6 February | Stamford Raffles, Temenggong Abdul Rahman and Tengku Hussain signed a treaty, marking Singapore as a British settlement. |
1820 | Cantonese-dominated Ghee Hin and Hakka-dominated Hai San, two main secret societies in Malaya were established. | |
1821 | November | Kedah was invaded by the Siamese forces, a few years after Mahsuri's execution. |
1822 | 27 November | Tengku Jummat was proclaimed the Sultan of Johor-Pahang-Riau-Lingga with strong support from Raja Jaafar, Yang di-Pertuan Muda of Johor-Pahang-Riau-Lingga and the Dutch |
1824 | 17 March | Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824 was signed by the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, partitioning the southern Malay states, Johor-Pahang-Riau-Lingga between British Malaya and Dutch East Indies. |
1826 | 20 June | Burney Treaty was signed between Siam and the United Kingdom, partitioning the northern Malay states between British Malaya and Siam. |
Straits Settlements were established, consisting of Penang, Malacca and Singapore. | ||
Alexander Hare, an English adventurer brought his Malay harem and slaves from the Malay Archipelago to the Cocos Islands, forming a community called Cocos Malays. | ||
1831 | Naning War: The opposition of Dol Said to British taxation policy in Naning led to the Naning War. | |
1832 | Luak Tampin founded. | |
1833 | Naning War: Dol Said surrenders to British forces in return for an official pardon, so ending the Naning War. | |
1836 | Malays and Bidayuhs of Sarawak River basin revolted and proclaimed their independence from Brunei. | |
1839 | Kedah was divided into four administrative units by Siam, Setul, Perlis, Kubang Pasu and Kedah. | |
15 August | James Brooke first arrived in Kuching. | |
1840 | 20 December | James Brooke and Serib Japper negotiate and accept the surrender of Siniawan Rebels in Upper Sarawak |
1841 | 14 February | James Brooke receives permission from the Sultan of Brunei to trade and reside in Sarawak |
24 September | Sarawak was ruled by James Brooke. | |
1843 | Siam recognized Syed Hussin Jamalullail as the ruler of Perlis. | |
1846 | 8 July | Brunei captured by the British |
August | Brunei cedes Sarawak - Tg. Datu to mouth of Samarrahan to James Brooke | |
18 December | Brunei cedes Labuan to the British | |
1853 | January | Rentap forces attacked Brooke's fort in Nanga Skrang and killed Alan Lee, a British officer. |
1855 | Ali Wallace was recruited as a cook for Alfred Russel Wallace in his explorations and was later responsible for independently collecting many significant specimens that are credited to Wallace. | |
1859 | 25 June | Sharif Masahor forces attacked Brooke's fort in Kanowit and killed Charles Fox and Henry Steele, two British officers. |
1861 | July | First Larut War: Hai San Society tried to sabotage Ghee Hin's waterway. |
1865 | Second Larut War: Started over gambling quarrel between members of Ghee Hin and Hai San. | |
1867 | Klang War: Raja Mahadi challenged Raja Abdullah for authority over Klang. | |
1 April | Straits Settlements came under direct British control as a crown colony. | |
1866 | Baju Kurung Telok Belanga, a version of Baju Kurung was designed by Sultan Abu Bakar and named after the centre of the Johor at that time. Baju Kurung is the national dress of Malaysia. | |
1869 | Yap Ah Loy became the Kapitan of Kuala Lumpur | |
1870 | Klang War: Ghee Hin had joined Raja Mahadi's forces, and Hai San had sided with Tengku Kudin. | |
1871 | Third Larut War: Began with an affair between Ghee Hin's leader and a member of Hai San and conflict of Perak succession between Raja Abdullah and Raja Ismail. | |
1873 | Fourth Larut War: Quarrelling Malay chiefs had taken sides in the Larut Wars, by showing support to the quarrelling Chinese secret societies. | |
Klang War: Tengku Kudin, with British aid, a Pahang army, and his Chinese allies, defeated Raja Mahadi and his supporters. | ||
1874 | 20 January | Pangkor Treaty of 1874 was signed, signalling the British involvement in the policies of the Malays, and the establishment of British Malaya. |
War break out in Sungai Ujong between the forces of Dato' Kelana and Dato' Bandar. British sided with Dato' Kelana and defeated Dato' Bandar and Sungai Ujong felt to British dominance. | ||
1875 | 2 November | Perak War: James W. W. Birch, the first Resident of Perak was assassinated by Malay chief, Dato Maharaja Lela's forces in Pasir Salak. |
7 November | Perak War: Sultan of Perak and Malay chiefs attempted to end foreign influence in the region. | |
A Persian theatre company from Bombay performed in Penang, led to the creation of Bangsawan. | ||
1876 | Perak War: Raja Abdullah, Ngah Ibrahim and Mohammad Amin were exiled to the Seychelles. | |
1877 | 20 January | Perak War: Dato' Maharaja Lela was executed by hanging in Taiping. |
1882 | May | North Borneo became a British protectorate under the sovereign North Borneo Chartered Company. |
1885 | The first Railway track was built connecting Taiping with Port Weld. | |
1887 | Terengganu Inscription Stone was discovered by villagers in Kuala Berang. | |
1895 | Terusan Wan Mat Saman was built by the Prime Minister of Kedah, connecting Alor Setar with Gurun, the longest aqueduct in Malaysia. | |
1895 | Undang-undang Tubuh Kerajaan Johor was introduced by Sultan Abu Bakar, the first written constitution in Malaysia. | |
1896 | Selangor, Perak, Negeri Sembilan and Pahang joined to become the Federated Malay States, a federation of British protectorates. | |
1897 | Mat Salleh Rebellion: Mat Salleh forces attacked and destroyed British's administrative center in Pulau Gaya. |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
1909 | 10 March | The Anglo-Siamese Treaty of 1909 was signed by the United Kingdom and Thailand, effectively dissecting the northern Malay states. |
1914 | 28 October | Battle of Penang: The German cruiser SMS Emden sank two Allied warships in the Strait of Malacca. |
1915 | William Kellie Smith, a Scottish planter started the construction project of Kellie's Castle in Batu Gajah, Perak. | |
1922 | Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong represented one of the 43 farmers being put to trial in a court for doing farming without permission. | |
1928 | Haji Abdul Rahman Limbong assembled about 1,000 people in Kampung Buluh, to launch their resistance to get the British out of their state. Several police stations were attacked were made in Kuala Berang. | |
1941 | 7 December | Attack on Pearl Harbor: Japan opened hostilities with the Allies and their colonies. |
8 December | Japanese occupation of Malaya: Japanese forces invaded and began the occupation of British Malaya. | |
16 December | Japanese occupation of British Borneo: Japanese forces invaded and began the occupation of British Borneo. | |
10 December | The British battleship HMS Prince of Wales and the battlecruiser HMS Repulse were sunk by Japanese bombers. | |
1942 | 14 January | Battle of Muar: The last major battle of the Malayan campaign was fought. |
23 January | Parit Sulong Massacre: Allied soldiers were massacred by Japanese forces. | |
9 February | Battle of Singapore: The Japanese crossed the Strait of Johor in inflatable boats and landed in Singapore. | |
13 February | Battle of Pasir Panjang: A Malay regiment led by Lieutenant Adnan bin Saidi fought bravely against the Japanese at Pasir Panjang Ridge. | |
1 September | Almost 100 leading members of the Malayan Peoples' Anti-Japanese Army are killed by the Japanese near the Batu Caves. Their secret location was betrayed by their leader Lai Teck, who was Double agent. | |
18 October | Kedah became the Thai possession of Syburi. | |
1944 | 11 January | World War II: Action of 11 January 1944 World War II: Action of 17 July 1944 |
1945 | January | Sandakan Death Marches: Cruel marches began which were forced by Japan. |
June | Sandakan Death Marches: The death marches came to an end. | |
27 June | Battle of North Borneo: A battle was fought between the Australians and Japanese. | |
14 August | Japan surrendered, leaving a power vacuum. | |
5 September | The British returned and established a military administration in the Straits Settlements. | |
23 September | Kedah and the three other states were returned to the British. | |
29 January | Communist allied trade unions stage a successful 24 hour general strike across Malaya. | |
1946 | 1 April | The Straits Settlements were dissolved and replaced by the Malayan Union, conceived to unify the Malay Peninsula under a single government. |
8 February | Charles Vyner Brooke declared that the Sarawak Supreme Council agreed on the cession of Sarawak to British. | |
1 July | British officially declared Sarawak as Crown Colony of Sarawak | |
1948 | 31 January | Opposition from Malay nationalists forced the Malayan Union to disband in favour of the Federation of Malaya, which restored the symbolic positions of the rulers of the Malay states. |
16 June | The Malayan Emergency begins: European owned plantations and tin mines in Malaya were attacked by Communists, in an event known as the Sungai Siput incident. This event is recognised as the beginning of the Malayan Emergency (1948-1960). | |
16 July | Death of Lau Yew: British security forces clashed with those of the Malayan Communist Party resulting in the death of one of their key leaders, Lau Yew. [3] | |
12 December | The Batang Kali massacre: The Scots Guards of the British Army murder 24 unarmed civilians. | |
4 May | British forces hang S. A. Ganapathy, the former president of Malaya's largest trade union. | |
21 May | The 10th Malay Regiment is founded. This is the only predominantly Malay regiment to exist belonging to the Malayan National Liberation Army during the Malayan Emergency. | |
1949 | 8 October | The University of Malaya was established following the merger of Raffles College and King Edward Medical College. |
3 December | Rosli Dhobi and several members from Rukun 13 orchestrated the assassination of the Governor of Sarawak, Sir Duncan Stewart in Sibu. | |
1950 | 23 February | Bukit Kepong Incident: An armed encounter took place between Communists and the police. |
1951 | 6 October | Assassination of Sir Henry Gurney: British High Commissioner Sir Henry Gurney was killed by members of the Malayan Communist Party in Fraser's Hill. |
1952 | 28 April - May | The British communist newspaper the Daily Worker leaks photographs of British soldiers in Malay posing with the severed heads of guerrillas belonging to the Malayan National Liberation Army, a common practice among British forces during the Malayan Emergency. These photographs create an uproar among British politicians and military leaders. Winston Churchill then orders Gerald Templer to stop this practice. [4] [5] |
1955 | 28-29 December | Baling Talks: A talk between representative of the government of Malaya and Malayan Communist Party to resolve the Malayan Emergency situation. Tan Cheng Lock, David Marshall and Tunku Abdul Rahman represented the government whereas Chin Peng, Rashid Maidin and Chen Tien represented the communists. However, the talks were unsuccessful because the surrender terms were not acceptable to the Malayan Communist Party.. |
1956 | 18 January | A constitutional conference proposed the appointment of the Reid Commission to devise a constitution for a fully self-governing and independent Federation of Malaya. |
8 February | Treaty of London 1956: The Treaty of London 1956 was signed to set up the independent Federation of Malaya. | |
20 February | Tunku Abdul Rahman announced in Malacca Town after he returned from London that Malaya would become independent on 31 August 1957. | |
1957 | 21 February | The Reid Commission submitted its working draft to a Working Committee. |
1 July | Berita Harian which known as BH, a Malay-language daily newspaper, was founded. | |
31 July | Federation of Malaya Independence Act 1957 was enforced in London | |
15 August | The new Federal Constitution was passed by the Federal Legislative Council. | |
27 August | The Federation of Malayan constitution took effect for the first time. | |
30 August | Stadium Merdeka was officially opened. | |
31 August | Historical midnight started with Union Jack flag which, was lowered for the first time along British national anthem "God Save the King" and replaced by the independent Federation of Malaya flag with national anthem, Negaraku. | |
Early morning, the proclamation of independence was held in Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur with historical shout "Merdeka" with 7 times by first Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman. | ||
Malaya joined Commonwealth of Nations | ||
1 September | Tuanku Abdul Rahman of Negeri Sembilan was installed as the first Yang di-Pertuan Agong at Istana Negara. | |
17 September | Federation of Malaya joined United Nations. | |
30 October | Alliance Party was fully registered as coalition party. | |
1959 | 26 January | Central Bank of Malaya, which known as Bank Negara Tanah Melayu, was founded. |
19 August | The first election was held since Independence. The Alliance won most of the seats. | |
12 September | The first Malayan Parliament was opened by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. | |
1960 | 31 May | Malayan Banking Berhad, which known as Maybank, was incorporated. |
22 June | Internal Security Act (ISA) 1960 was passed by Dewan Rakyat and later, to be effective in August 1960. | |
28 July | Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, which known as Bunga Raya, declared as the Malayan national flower. | |
31 July | End of state of emergency against Communist Party declared by Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Hishamuddin Alam Shah, but conflict still ongoing until 1989 . A victory parade was held in Kuala Lumpur on the same day. | |
1961 | 27 May | Malayan Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman proposed a "Malaysia" merger between Peninsular Malaya, Singapore, North Borneo and Sarawak. |
1962 | 19 January | Dato' Onn Jaafar, the founder of UMNO, has died. His body was laid to rest at Makam Mahmoodiah, Johor Bahru. |
17 January | Cobbold Commission: The Cobbold Commission, was a Commission of Enquiry set up to determine whether the people of East Malaysia who supported the Federation of Malaysia proposal which consisting of Malaya, Brunei, Singapore, North Borneo, and Sarawak. | |
19 April | Stadium Negara, Malaya's first indoor stadium was officially opened. | |
1 September | A referendum on the terms of integration into the Federation of Malaysia was held in Singapore. | |
8-17 December | Brunei Revolt: The insurrection of Brunei by opponents with Indonesia supportive against Brunei monarchy and its proposed Malaysia has begun, later influenced then Sultan of Brunei to reject Malaysia proposal, thus marked the beginning of the Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation. | |
1963 | 20 January | Indonesia–Malaysia confrontation: Indonesian Foreign Minister Subandrio announced that Indonesia would declared Confrontation or konfrontasi against proposed Federation of Malaysia. |
11 March | The National Language Act 1963 was gazetted by Dewan Rakyat. | |
9 July | The Malaysia Agreement was signed by the governments of the United Kingdom, Malaya, Singapore, North Borneo and Sarawak. | |
22 July | Sarawak was granted establishment of de facto self-government and independence before Malaysia formation. | |
31 July | Malaysia Act 1963 which provisioning Malaya, Sarawak, Sabah and Singapore came to operation in United Kingdom. | |
Manila Accord was signed by the governments of Malaya (now Malaysia), Indonesia and, Philippines. | ||
31 August | Sabah was granted establishment of de facto self-government and independence before Malaysia formation. | |
Muzium Negara, the first national museum, was officially opened. | ||
16 September | Malaysia establishment: Malaya, Singapore, Sabah and Sarawak merged to form Malaysia. | |
14 November | The National Zoo of Malaysia which known as "Zoo Negara" was officially opened. | |
21 November | The Malaysian Houses of Parliament, which known as "Bangunan Parlimen" was officially opened. | |
28 December | Television of Malaysia was launched by the then Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman. | |
1964 | 25 April | Election was held for the first time since formation of Malaysia. Alliance won most of seats but Singapore party, People's Action Party (PAP) has won 1 seat in Selangor. This PAP victory send outrage and angry reaction to UMNO and threatening Malaysian politics. |
21 July | Race riots, which involved Malays and Chinese has occurred during Prophet Muhammad birthday celebration in Singapore, resulted 23 killed, 454 injured and 3568 were arrested. | |
2 September | Second race riots has happened again in Singapore due to murder of a Malay trishaw rider, resulted 13 killed, 106 sustained injuries and 1,439 were arrested. | |
1965 | 10 March | Bomb blast was detonated by Indonesian saboteurs at the MacDonald House building in Orchard Road, Singapore. |
27 May | Singapore and PAP leader, Lee Kuan Yew with joined several other multiracial parties announced formation of Malaysia Solidarity Convention or Malaysian Malaysia, thus sparked controversy over the Malaysia sovereignty among Malay leaders. | |
7 August | Proclamation of Singapore was agreed by Malaysia and Singapore government that Singapore would be separated from Malaysia as independent and sovereign nation relating after Malaysia and Singapore have not found any alternative solution to those concerned national issues. | |
9 August | Exit Singapore: Malaysian Parliament voted to expel Singapore from the Malaysia, gave Singapore to become independent nation. | |
27 August | The National Mosque, which known as "Masjid Negara" was declared open by then Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Syed Putra. | |
30 August | Subang International Airport was officially opened. | |
14 - 21 December 1965 | SEAP Games was held by then Agong, Sultan Nasiruddin in Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur for the first time. | |
1966 | 7 February | Exchange of notes by the government of Malaysia (formerly Malaya) and Philippines constituting an agreement relating to the implementation of the Manila Accord of 31 July 1963. |
8 February | The National Monument, known as "Tugu Negara" was officially opened by then Agong, Ismail Nasiruddin. | |
11 August | The final peace agreement was signed with Indonesia, which formally recognised Malaysia, marked the end of Malaysia-Indonesia confrontation | |
30 - 31 October | US President, Lyndon B. Johnson made historic visit to Malaysia. This is the first US President to set foot on Malaysian soil. | |
1967 | February | Communist insurgency in Malaysia (1968–89): A renewed insurgency was conducted by the Malayan Communist Party against Malaysian federal security forces. |
9 - 10 June | 1967 Thomas Cup: Malaysian badminton team defeated Indonesia by 6-3 in the final. This is the fourth title for Malaysian badminton. | |
12 June | The Malaysian ringgit (Malaysian dollar) was officially introduced, replacing the Malaya and British Borneo dollar. | |
1 July | Full immigration control at Malaysia-Singapore border was imposed with beginning of passport checks at Johor Immigration Center. | |
8 August | ASEAN Declaration: Malaysia signed Bangkok Declaration with Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Singapore to form ASEAN. | |
1 September | Malay language, which known as "Bahasa Malaysia" was declared as national language. | |
1968 | 17 February | The Angkasapuri, new main information building for government and also the headquarters for Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) was officially opened in Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Shortly after, Radio Malaysia and Television Malaysia (RTM) service were moved from Tunku Abdul Rahman multipurpose hall at Jalan Ampang to the Angkasapuri. |
20 May | Malaysian National News Agency, which known as "BERNAMA" was formed. | |
1969 | 10 May | 1969 Malaysian general election: Alliance won fourth general election in West Malaysia but suffered a loss of two-thirds majority in Parliament for the first time since Independence. Alliance also lost government power to Opposition in Perak, Selangor, Penang and Kelantan. |
13 May | 13 May Incident: Ethnic riots between Malays and Chinese took place in Kuala Lumpur in the aftermath of election. Violence quickly spread to various places in Selangor and some other states. | |
14 - 16 May | The state of emergency and curfew was declared immediately by then Agong, Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah throughout the country. Security forces were deployed and took control of the violent situation. | |
15 May | National Operations Council (NOC) was established with Deputy Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak as Director of Operations to act as a temporary legislative council in restore law and order in Malaysia after the 13 May riots. | |
Through contain the racial sentiments, Parliament session was suspended for next 18 months. Newspaper publications were suspended but resumed later on 18 May. | ||
12 July | UMNO Kedah leader, Mahathir Mohamad was sacked by UMNO for gave criticism to Tunku's leadership and urged Tunku to resign. | |
26 December | Mat Kilau, Malay legend hero, shockilly revealed himself after Friday prayers at Masjid Kampung Pulau Tawar, Jerantut, Pahang. His identity was confirmed later by state and government committee. One year later, he died at age of 105. | |
1970 | 4 April | Malaysia's first satellite station was commissioned in Kuantan, Pahang. |
31 August | Rukun Negara, the national philosophy was instituted by royal proclamation on Merdeka Day, after the May 13 Incident. | |
22 September | Tun Abdul Razak was appointed as second Prime Minister after Tunku Abdul Rahman resigned. Tun Dr Ismail also appointed as Deputy Prime Minister on the same day. | |
1971 | 5 January | The major flash flood has occurred in Kuala Lumpur by heavy monsoon rains which were swelled the Klang, Batu, and Gombak rivers. As a result, 32 people were killed in the worst flood disaster. |
11 July | New affirmative action program, New Economic Policy, known as "Dasar Ekonomi Baru (DEB)" was launched by government in the aftermath of 13 May Incident in Malaysia. This policy gave rise to the formulation of this policy, its objectives and implementation methods as well as its impact on the Malaysian economy in general. | |
9 September | The Star, new Malaysian newspaper, was established. | |
1972 | 1 February | Kuala Lumpur has awarded as a city status and Tan Sri Dato' Lokman bin Yusof appointed as the first Kuala Lumpur mayor |
22 February - 8 March | Queen Elizabeth II and other royal family made first visit to Malaysia by arriving onboard the Royal Yacht Britannia at the Port Klang in part of an eight-country royal tour of Asia. Her visit was welcomed by then Agong, Sultan Abdul Halim. | |
1973 | 29 May | Famous Malaysian actor and singer, P. Ramlee, has died at the age of age of 44 from a heart attack and was buried at Jalan Ampang Muslim Cemetery, in Kuala Lumpur |
2 August | Deputy Prime Minister, Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman has died due to heart attack. He was the first national leader to be laid to rest in Makam Pahlawan, Masjid Negara, Kuala Lumpur. Tun Hussein Onn, son of Dato Onn, has appointed as deputy the next day. | |
1974 | 1 February | Kuala Lumpur was awarded as first Federal Territory state. |
28 May | Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak, made historic visit to China for the first time and met Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai in Beijing, thus made Malaysia to established diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China. | |
1 June | Barisan Nasional (BN) was fully registered as new coalition party, thus replacing the previous Alliance Party. | |
7 June | Inspector General of Police, Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Hashim was assassinated by the communist rebels in Kuala Lumpur. | |
17 August | Petronas, the first Malaysian petroleum and gas company, was founded. | |
24 August | Barisan Nasional (BN) wins the fifth election for the first time. | |
15 September | More than 100 houses of poor urban settler families in Tasek Utara, Johor Bahru were demolished, caused 300 people from 60 families lost their homes. Student leaders from various universities came to Tasek Utara, Johor Bahru to offer support to those poor villagers and pleaded those state authorities to stop demolishing their homes but their demand was ignored. | |
16 September | In response to demolished homes, those Malay squatters set up their tents to camped outside the Johor State Secretariat Building, where they picketed day and night in protest against demolishing their homes, this protest was witnessed by some student leaders from various universities. | |
19 September | Malaysian police and police riot quietly entered the camp site and arrested 5 people including some student leaders, caused outrage and public outcry to other universities. | |
20 September | More than 2,500 students from University Malaya took part in a street demonstration outside Prime Minister's Department to demand the release of student leader who struggle to support Tasek Utara squatter families. | |
21 September | Universiti Malaya (UM) student activists including University of Malaya Students' Association took over the administration and campus of the University of Malaya to demand the release of 2 student leaders who were arrested in Johor Bahru yesterday and this coup lasted for one day. On the same day, 1,000 student activists demonstrated outside the UM campus for same demand. As a result, Malaysian police riot policemen were blocked the student demonstration by fired tear gas and some students were arrested. | |
9 November | Baling demonstration began with more than 1,000 peasants due to an increase of those food prices and the fall of price of rubber which affecting a majority of the residents of Baling district, who were mostly rubber smallholders in Baling, Kedah. | |
20 November | Demonstration continued to take place in Baling, Kedah and surrounding areas near Baling area to urged government to resolve the inflation issues. In the next day, Baling events participation continue to rose up with more than 13,000 people. | |
1 December | Demonstration in Baling, Kedah continued to grow more than 30,000 people to protest due to late respond by Malaysian government to tackle the same issue. | |
3 December | More than 5,000 students took street demonstration at Dataran Merdeka in supporting previously Baling protest, demand government to solve inflation issues but later, Malaysian police riot dispersed peaceful street demonstration with fired tear gas, As a result, many students were arrested due their participation in the same rally. | |
9 December | Student leaders including Anwar Ibrahim were arrested in connection to street demonstration. They were also arrested under ISA 1960. | |
Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN) was founded. | ||
1975 | 5 August | 1975 AIA building hostage crisis: Japanese Red Army took more than 50 hostages at the AIA building, which housed several embassies. |
27 August | National Monument statue was suffered damage due to an explosion, which was set off by a communist guerrilla. Since then, it has been restored to its original state with the renovated statues 2 years later. | |
1976 | 14 January | Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Razak has died at age of 53 in London due to leukemia. His body has flied back to Malaysia 2 days later and laid to rest at Makam Pahlawan, Masjid Negara, Kuala Lumpur. |
15 January | Tun Hussein Onn was sworn in as third Prime Minister. | |
5 March | Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister. | |
6 June | Sabah chief minister and former state Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor), Tun Fuad Stephens, one crew among 9 passengers were killed in a plane crash near Kota Kinabalu. Tun Fuad Stephens' body was later, interred at State Mausoleum near Sabah State Mosque, Kota Kinabalu. | |
1977 | 24 April | A car racing in the unlimited formula car race on the program with the Malaysian Grand Prix ran off the track into a group of spectators today, killing five children and injuring 19 other people. |
27 September | Japan Air Lines Flight 715, which carried 69 passengers and 10 crew members, has crashed near Subang International Airport, leaving 45 people injured and 34 casualties. | |
8 November | 1977 Kelantan Emergency: The state of emergency was declared by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (King of Malaysia) on 8 November 1977 upon the request of the federal government following a political impasse and street violence in Kelantan. [6] | |
4 December | Malaysian Airline System Flight 653 (MH653) has crashed at Tanjung Kupang, Johor, while purportedly being diverted by hijackers to Singapore, leaving 100 people dead including Agricultural Minister, Dato' Ali Haji Ahmad. It was the first deadliest air crash disaster for Malaysia Airlines in history. | |
1978 | 28 December | Color television was launched by then Prime Minister, Hussein Onn in RTM 1 channel. |
1979 | 21 December | Pedra Branca dispute: Singapore lodged a formal protest with Malaysia in response to a map published by Malaysia in 1979 claiming Pedra Branca. |
1980 | 6 April | Malaysian football team has qualified for the 1980 Summer Olympics football tournament after defeated South Korea by 2-1 in play-off match at Stadium Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur. Later, Malaysia replaced by Iraq due to Government joined American-led political boycott towards Soviet Union in protest of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. |
1981 | 16 July | Mahathir Mohamad was sworn in as fourth Prime Minister after Tun Hussein Onn resigned. Tun Musa Hitam was appointed as deputy the next day |
7 September | Guthrie Dawn Raid, quietly secret Malaysia plan, has occurred when Malaysia took over Guthrie Corporation Limited, biggest British-owned plantations groups in the Malaysia through Pemodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) which bought up Guthrie's share at the London Stock Exchange and secured a majority control in series of quick tradings in the early morning, caused those British Guthrie investors lost control of Malaysia's agricultural land. | |
1982 | 1 January | The time zone in Peninsular Malaysia and Singapore changed to UTC+08:00 and has not changed since. |
29 May | McDonald's, American famous fast food chain, opened its first restaurant at Jalan Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur. | |
1984 | 16 April | Labuan became a second Federal Territory state in Malaysia. This is the first Federal Territory in the East Malaysia along Borneo states. |
1 June | Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Berhad, which known as TV3, Malaysia's first private television channel, was launched. | |
1985 | 10 July | Proton Saga, the first national car, was officially launched by then Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad, marked the beginning of car manufacturer industry in Malaysia |
3 August | Penang Bridge, the first national bridge, officially opened and later, opened to traffic on 14 September 1985. | |
19 November | Memali Incident: Worst clash has occurred between police and Ibrahim Mahmud (Libya)'s followers, killing 4 policemen and 14 followers. 159 followers has been arrested including 36 people under ISA 1960. | |
1986 | 26 February | Sabah Chief Minister and United Sabah Party (PBS) president, Joseph Pairin Kitingan has asked Sabah Governor, Adnan Robert to dissolve the State Assembly by stating that his party has lost the majority as state government with 4 PBS assembly members left party and government, caused hung state assembly, which was weakened Sabah government and also, led to 1986 Sabah riots. |
12 March | 1986 Sabah riots: The Sabah riots, known as the "Silent Riot" occurred. During the political riots, 7 plastic explosives were detonated in Kota Kinabalu, adding other 5 explosives in Sandakan, which killed one newspaper vendor and injured a senior Police Field Force officer and another one in Tawau. | |
13 March | 1986 Sabah riots: Curfew was announced by the Sabah's police and held for 39 days in the aftermath of the riots. | |
16 March | Tun Musa Hitam resigned as Deputy Prime Minister due to unavoidable differences with Mahathir. | |
24 March | After the failed solution to Sabah's political crisis, Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad negotiated and proposed a unity government formula between PBS and 2 other opposition parties, USNO and BERJAYA but PBS refused it. | |
14 April | Singer Sudirman Arshad launched the biggest street concert ever held in the Chow Kit Road, Kuala Lumpur in front of more than 100,000 fans at night. | |
4 May | 1986 Sabah state election: The snap election was held in response to civil disturbances and political defections following the results of the 1985 state election. The results showed United Sabah Party (PBS) has won two-third majority and easily, formed the Sabah government with Joseph Pairin Kitingan once again as Sabah Chief Minister. | |
10 May | Tun Ghafar Baba was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister. | |
27 June | PLUS Expressways, the Malaysian largest highway concessionary or build–operate–transfer operator company was founded. | |
17 - 22 October | Pudu Prison siege took place after a group of prisoners seized and held two members of the prison staff as hostages. The siege was resolved 6 days later when Malaysian police stormed the prison and successfully rescued those hostages safely. | |
1987 | 24 April | UMNO crisis began with leading President, Mahathir which led "Team A", was challenged by Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah who led "Team B" for the Presidency position. Later, the official results saw Mahathir's Team A as the winner, by a thin majority, with 761 votes to Razaleigh's Team B with 718. |
27 October - 20 November | Operasi Lalang, a major political crackdown, was carried out by Malaysian police, saw arrest of 119 people including political activists, opposition politicians, intellectuals, students and others under the Internal Security Act (ISA) 1960. | |
28 October | Home Ministry withdrew the licences of the English language newspapers The Star and Sunday Star, the Chinese language Sin Chew Jit Poh, and the Malay language Watan for temporary period. Those suspended newspapers were lifted one year later. | |
1988 | 4 February | 1988 constitutional crisis: UMNO was declared an illegal organization by the Kuala Lumpur High Court due to reports by 11 Group or Kumpulan 11 which believed to be allied with Tengku Razaleigh that challenged 1987 UMNO election results. |
13 February | 1988 constitutional crisis: The application to register UMNO Baru was submitted by then President UMNO, Mahathir Mohamad and some pro-Mahathir's former UMNO Supreme Council Members. UMNO Baru was formed the next day and officially accepted to re-member Barisan Nasional. | |
17 March | 1988 constitutional crisis: In retaliation, amendment was red under Article 121 of the Federal Constitution in Parliament in interpret Malaysian judiciary system within the country's administration system. This also would be the attempt to put pressure and attacks on Malaysian judiciary system. | |
26 March | 1988 constitutional crisis: Lord President, Tun Salleh Abbas writing a letter to then Agong, Sultan Iskandar to stop Prime Minister's intervention in judiciary matters. | |
25 May | 1988 constitutional crisis: Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad has send his letter to then Agong Sultan Iskandar to wished that Tun Salleh Abbas should be replaced with the new Lord President. | |
9 June | 1988 constitutional crisis: Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad made a second representation to the King alleging further misconduct on the part of Tun Salleh Abbas based on his undignified use of the press to vent his grievances – such as requesting for a public hearing of the tribunal and asking for persons of high judicial standing to sit on the tribunal. 2 days later, members of the tribunal were appointed pursuant to the Federal Constitution by the King. | |
29 June | 1988 constitutional crisis: The tribunal held its proceedings in camera while Tun Salleh Abbas was accorded the right to be defended by Queen's counsel. Tribunal found that 5 allegations against Tun Salleh Abbas as Lord President. | |
4 July | 1988 constitutional crisis: Tribunal ends with enough evidence that Tun Salleh Abbas had misbehaviour for his challenge as tribunal process as the Lord President, thus made Tun Salleh Abbas to removed from office. | |
31 July | Sultan Abdul Halim ferry terminal bridge collapsed in Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia due to an overcrowding and unstable steel bars, leaving 32 people dead and injured 1,634 people. | |
1989 | 19 March | Singer, Sudirman Arshad won the title " Best Performer" in the 1989 Salem Asian Music Awards at Royal Albert Hall, London, United Kingdom. |
22 September | Around 27 students, mostly schoolgirls were killed in the Madrasah fire tragedy in Guar Chempedak, Kedah. | |
1990 | 29 May | Former Prime Minister, Tun Hussein Onn has died at age of 68 due to heart disease at San Francisco, California, at the age of 68. He was laid to rest at Makam Pahlawan, Masjid Negara, Kuala Lumpur. |
6 December | Former Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj has died at age of 87. His body was brought back to Kedah and laid to rest at Kedah Royal Mausoleum, Langgar, Kedah. | |
1991 | 7 May | Bright Sparklers Fireworks disaster occurred in Sungai Buloh, Selangor after the fireworks factory caught fire and caused a huge explosion, leaving 26 people were killed and over 100 people were injured in the disaster. Some local houses and residential properties suffered damage of some roofs due to same explosion. |
1992 | 22 February | Singer, Sudirman Arshad has died at the age of 39 at his sister's house in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur. His body is brought back to his hometown in Temerloh, Pahang and laid to rest at Chengal Muslim Cemetery. |
16 May | 1992 Thomas & Uber Cup: After 25 years, Malaysia's men's badminton team won the fifth Thomas Cup at Stadium Negara, Kuala Lumpur, beating Indonesia with the aggregate of 3–2 | |
10 July | The second son of the Sultan of Johor, Tunku Abdul Majid, probably lost his temper assaulted a Perak hockey goalkeeper after Perak won against Johor in hockey championship match. This incident marked the beginning of 1993 Constitutional Crisis. | |
18 October | 1993 Constitutional Crisis: Tunku Abdul Majid Idris has been banned for 5 years from the game by the Malaysian Hockey Federation's disciplinary board after he was found guilty of assaulting the Perak goalkeeper during hockey tournament in Johor Bahru last 10 July. This punishment made his father, Sultan Iskandar, angry and disappointed over his son's punishment. | |
25 November | 1993 Constitutional Crisis: In response to his son, Tunku Abdul Majid's punishment, Sultan Iskandar ordered Johor education department to blocked Johor hockey team from the hockey match just hours before the semi-final of a Malaysian Hockey Federation (MHF) tournament. This action made Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar hockey coach, Douglas Gomez felt disappointed and called on office bearers of the Johor Hockey Federation to resign. | |
30 November | 1993 Constitutional Crisis: Sultan Iskandar of Johor physically abused hockey coach, Douglas Gomez at Istana Bukit Serene. This incident which known as "Gomez Incident", was received attention from local media and Malaysia government. | |
10 December | 1993 Constitutional Crisis: A special parliamentary session was held immediately, saw all 96 members of the Dewan Rakyat present to pass a unanimous resolution to curb the powers of the rulers if necessary. | |
27 December | 1993 Constitutional Crisis: The subsequent parliamentary session saw discussions to remove legal immunity which agitated Sultan Iskandar of Johor to hold a rally to oppose the government's actions, but was forced to cancel after intense government pressure. | |
1993 | 17 January | 1993 Constitutional Crisis: 6 Sultans including Pahang, Terengganu, Perlis, Negeri Sembilan, Selangor and Perak agreed that amendments made to proposal to remove legal immunity during the meeting at Istana Negara involving both Rulers and government. Only absent were Johor, Kelantan and Kedah. |
18 January | 1993 Constitutional Crisis: Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad tabled proposed amendment Bill during parliamentary sessions in Dewan Rakyat on subsequent days despite Sultans' objections, citing as far to say that there was no need to obtain royal assent to implement laws. | |
19 January | 1993 Constitutional Crisis: 133 out of 180 MPs passed the proposed changes although members of the opposition parties abstained from voting, citing indifferences. Dewan Negara passed a unanimous resolution to approve of the proposed amendments the next day. | |
31 March | 1993 Constitutional Crisis: The Parliament passed amendments to the Constitution with the aim of stripping the royalty of legal immunity. A new chapter, Part XV of the Constitution entitled "Proceedings against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the Rulers" was also enshrined. | |
1 December | Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister, replacing Tun Ghafar Baba. | |
11 December | Block A of Highland Towers apartments suddenly collapsed at 1:35 pm in Hillview Park, Hulu Kelang, Selangor, leaving 48 people died and two people survived. This incident became the deadliest structural failure in Malaysian history. | |
1994 | 1 January | Petronas Towers construction commenced. |
1995 | 29 June | 20 people were killed in the landslide at Genting Highlands slip road near the Karak Highway. |
29 August | Putrajaya, the Federal Government's new administrative centre project, was launched by then Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad. | |
15 September | Malaysia Airlines Flight 2133, a Fokker 50 plane, crashed near Tawau Airport in Tawau, Sabah after a failed go-around, killing 34 people and 19 other survived | |
1996 | 12 January | MEASAT 1, the first Malaysian satellite, was launched from by the Ariane rocket from Kourou, French Guiana to provides satellite services to leading Malaysia broadcasters and communications through space. |
19 January | Riots and demonstration by those Vietnamese refugees took place in Sungai Besi transit camp, set on fire on building blocks. Police were deployed to ease tense situation, leaving 24 Vietnamese and 7 policemen, were injured. | |
12 February | MSC Malaysia, which known as Multimedia Super Corridor was founded. The corridor area begins with Kuala Lumpur, through Cyberjaya and Putrajaya and ends with Sepang, Selangor. | |
1 June | ASTRO, Malaysia's first subscription-based satellite television station which provide different channels, was founded. | |
3 August | A widespread power outage in Peninsular Malaysia began at 5.17 pm on 3 August 1996 when a transmission line near Sultan Ismail Power Station in Paka, Terengganu tripped, which caused west states of Peninsular Malaysia lost power for several hours. Supply was back to normal next morning. | |
29 August | A mud avalanche has occurred near Pos Dipang Orang Asli settlement in Kampar, Perak killed 44 people. | |
1 October | Kuala Lumpur Tower, Malaysia's tallest telecommunication tower, was officially opened. | |
26 December | Tropical Depression Greg has hit 9 Sabah states including Kota Kinabalu, killing 238 people. This is the Malaysia's worst hurricane disaster in history. | |
1997 | 17 May | Cyberjaya, Malaysia's city with a science park as the core that forms a key part of the Multimedia Super Corridor, was officially launched by then Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad. |
23 May | M. Magendran (11.55 am) and N. Mohanadas (12.10 pm) were made their history as the first Malaysians to reach the peak of Mount Everest, the Earth's highest mountain. | |
7 July | 1997 Asian financial crisis : Within days of the Thai baht devaluation, the Malaysian ringgit was heavily traded by speculators. The overnight rate jumped from under 8% to over 40%. This led to rating downgrades and a general sell off on the stock and currency markets. | |
8 July | 1997 Asian financial crisis : Malaysia's central bank intervenes to defend its currency, the ringgit. | |
21 July | 1997 Asian financial crisis : The Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE) Composite Index fell below 200 points | |
24 July | 1997 Asian financial crisis : Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad accused "rogue speculators" for Southeast Asia's economic upheaval, blamed billionaire financier George Soros as causes of the crisis. | |
1998 | 7 January | 1997 Asian financial crisis : The ringgit depreciated against the dollar by almost 50 percent, hitting a high of RM 4.88 to the US dollar at its lowest point. |
23 January | 1997 Asian financial crisis: The Ringgit had lost 50% of its value, falling from above 2.50 to under 4.57 to the US dollar | |
7 April | NTV7, Malaysia's new channel, was officially launched. | |
8 May | Suria KLCC shopping mall was officially opened at the foot of the Petronas Twin Towers. | |
27 June | Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), Malaysia's new main international airport, was officially opened by then Agong, Tuanku Jaafar in Sepang, Selangor. | |
11 July | The National Sport Complex was officially inaugurated by the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Mahathir Mohamad in Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, ahead of the 16th Commonwealth Games. | |
17 August | Petronas Philharmonic Hall, Malaysia's first concert hall built specifically for classical music, was officially opened at Petronas Twin Towers, Kuala Lumpur. | |
1 September | 1997 Asian financial crisis : Prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad imposed strict capital controls and introduced a 3.80 peg against the U.S. dollar | |
2 September | Deputy Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim was sacked by Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad. This is the beginning of Reformasi movement in Malaysian politics | |
11 - 21 September | Opening ceremony of the 16th Commonwealth Games held in Kuala Lumpur at National Stadium at Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur for the first time. During the Games, Malaysian contingent team won 10 gold medals, followed by 14 silver and 12 bronze. | |
20 September | Anwar Ibrahim was arrested by police at the house at night after led street demonstration in Kuala Lumpur, which demand Mahathir to resign as Prime Minister. He was arrested under ISA 1960 next day. | |
29 September | Anwar Ibrahim was claimed trial to 9 charges including 5 from corruption and 4 from sodomy at the Kuala Lumpur Session Court. | |
1999 | 7 January | Tan Sri Abdul Rahim Noor resigned as the Inspector General of Police after taking full responsibility for injuries suffered by former Deputy Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim while in police custody last September 1998. |
8 January | Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister | |
7 March | Sepang International Circuit, Malaysia's largest motorsport race track, was officially opened. | |
1 April | The new Prime Ministerial office, Perdana Putra, was officially inaugurated in Putrajaya. The office was moved out from Kuala Lumpur to Putrajaya. | |
4 April | Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) was founded by former Deputy Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim's wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail. | |
14 April | Anwar Ibrahim found guilty by the High Court for corruption charges and was sentenced to 6 years in jail. | |
31 August | Petronas Twin Towers, world's tallest building, was officially opened by then Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad. | |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
2000 | 1 January | On New Year 2000, Y2K passed without serious, widespread computer failures, as many experts and businesses had feared. |
23 April | 21 hostages including 10 European and Middle East tourists has been kidnapped by 6 Abu Sayyaf militants from dive resort island of Sipadan, Sabah and taken hostage in Abu Sayyaf base, Jolo, Sulu in southern Philippines. | |
2 to 6 July | Al-Ma'unah, a Malaysian spiritual Islamist militant group, was made arms heist by stealing those weapons from army camps in the midnight and later hide up in top of Bukit Jenalik hill, Sauk, Kuala Kangsar, Perak and was later took 3 hostages. 5 days later, Al-Maunah militants were defeated when Malaysian security forces stormed their camp on the hill, resulting 2 security forces killed and each one of police and civilian rescued. | |
8 August | Anwar Ibrahim was sentenced 9 years in prison by High Court for charges of sodomy. | |
December | Gunung Mulu National Park and Kinabalu Park became UNESCO World Heritage Sites of nature. | |
2001 | 1 February | Putrajaya was declared as a third Federal Territory state. |
16 April | Kuala Lumpur Sentral Station, which known as KL Sentral), a largest railway transit-oriented development station that houses the various transportation trains, was officially opened, replacing the old Kuala Lumpur railway station. | |
5 September | Malaysian identity card which known as MyKad, the Malaysian Government Multipurpose Card was introduced. | |
8 September | Opening ceremony of the 21st Southeast Asian Games held in National Stadium at Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur. | |
11 September | The September 11 attacks occurred in New York City, USA. Three Malaysians among 2,996 people were killed in the terrorist attacks. | |
2002 | 22 June | In 2002 UMNO General Assembly, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad shocked the nation when he was announced that he would resign as Prime Minister, UMNO President and BN chairman, caused his supporters to rushed to calm him down and tearfully convinced him to rethink his decision on the stage. Shortly after, the handover set to date in October 2003. |
2003 | 11 February | Telekom Tower was officially opened. |
23 February | More 200,000 Malaysians were gathered together in National Stadium Bukit Jalil to show their support for "Malaysians For Peace". | |
31 October | Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad resigned as Prime Minister after 22 years of leadership, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi became the fifth Prime Minister of Malaysia the next day. | |
12 December | Penang and Malacca City became a cultural UNESCO World Heritage Site, citing as the Historic Cities of the Straits of Malacca. | |
2004 | 7 January | Najib Tun Razak was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister. |
8 January | 8TV, Malaysian Chinese television channel, was launched. | |
21 March | Barisan Nasional won 198 of 219 Parliamentary seats, broke record as the largest majority which won by BN in history. | |
2 September | Anwar Ibrahim was released after the Federal Court overturned his conviction and set aside his prison sentence on charges of sodomy. | |
26 December | Tsunami struck most parts of Asia including Malaysia, caused north of Peninsular Malaysia including Penang and Langkawi were affected, leaving 75 people dead and 5 others were missing. | |
2005 | 20 October | Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's wife, Tun Endon Mahmood Ambak has died due to breast cancer at age of 64. |
9 November | Dr Azahari Husin known as "Demolition Man", a Malaysian mastermind behind major terrorist bombings in Indonesia was killed in a police raid on his hideout in Indonesia. | |
2006 | 22 April | TV9, new Malaysia channel, was launched. |
2007 | 31 August | Malaysia celebrated 50 years of Independence. |
10 October | Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor became the first Malaysian astronaut, to fly up to the International Space Station (ISS) with American and Russian astronauts using the Soyuz TMA-11 rocket from Kazakhstan. | |
10 November | The first Bersih rally was held in Kuala Lumpur in their demand against corruption in the electoral process in Malaysia. | |
25 November | More than 30,000 Hindu Rights Action Force supporters participated in a 2007 HINDRAF rally which was held in Kuala Lumpur in their demand against Malaysian Indian discrimination. | |
2008 | 8 March | Barisan Nasional won the election but suffered worst election results when lost two-third majority since 1969 election. Opposition took Kedah, Penang, Perak, Selangor from BN and PAS also retained Kelantan as well. |
1 April | A new Opposition coalition party, Pakatan Rakyat was formed by PKR, DAP and PAS. | |
19 May | Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad left UMNO in forcing Abdullah Ahmad Badawi to step down as Prime Minister. | |
29 June | Anwar Ibrahim seek refuge in Turkey embassy in Kuala Lumpur for a while due to his safety concern. He was left the embassy the next day. | |
16 July | Anwar Ibrahim was arrested again by police in Kuala Lumpur shortly after Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) interview. It is believed that police purposely want DNA sample from Anwar at hospital due to reports of his sodomise against his aide. | |
7 August | Anwar Ibrahim pleaded not guilty to sodomy charges, freed on RM 20,000 bond at Kuala Lumpur Court Sessions. | |
26 August | Anwar Ibrahim won Permatang Pauh by-election, marked his return to Parliament after 10 years. He was also appointed as Opposition Leader 2 days later. | |
12 September | Malaysia Today news portal editor, Raja Petra Kamaruddin, Seputeh MP, Teresa Kok and Sin Chew Daily News reporter, Tan Hoon Cheng were arrested under ISA 1960. Hoon Cheng was freed the next day. | |
14 September | De facto law minister, Zaid Ibrahim led chorus of protest with 6 ministers against the use of ISA 1960 and demand the Government review the Act. | |
17 September | Abdullah and his deputy, Najib Tun Razak has swapped their portfolios with Abdullah as Defence Minister and Najib as Finance Minister | |
2009 | 31 January | 2 PKR Perak State Assembly members gone missing and 1 DAP State Assembly also gone missing 2 days later, thus it is believed that they would defect to opposition party, BN, marked the beginning of Perak political crisis. |
4 February | Deputy Prime Minister, Najib Tun Razak has declared BN government has enough majority to form Perak government due to defection of 3 Perak state assembly members, marked the collapse of Pakatan Rakyat government in Perak since GE12 in 2008. | |
6 February | Zambry Abdul Kadir was sworn in as new Perak Menteri Besar but Nizar Jamaluddin vowed to stay on despite Sultan Perak call for his resignation. | |
3 March | Perak Pakatan Rakyat state assembly members were conducted their meeting under a tree after they barred from entering state assembly building. | |
3 April | Najib Tun Razak was sworn in as sixth Prime Minister after Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi resigned. | |
10 April | Muhyiddin Yassin was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister. | |
11 May | High Court rule that Nizar Jamaluddin declared as legitimate Menteri Besar. BN filed its appeal against this decision. | |
21 May | Appeal Court decided that Zambry Abdul Kadir declared as rightful Menteri Besar. Nizar Jamaluddin filed his appeal against this decision. | |
2010 | 9 February | Federal Court rule that Zambry Abdul Kadir is the rightful Menteri Besar after Nizar's appeal was rejected, ending the Perak political crisis. |
1 November | TV Al Hijrah, Malaysian first Islamic channel, was launched. | |
29 December | Malaysian football team has won the first AFF Suzuki Cup after defeated Indonesia by aggregate 4-2. | |
2011 | 9 July | Bersih 2.0 rally was held in streets of Kuala Lumpur. |
15 September | Prime Minister Najib Razak was announced the proposed repeal of the ISA 1960 when he claimed that the repeal was made to accommodate and realise a mature, modern and functioning democracy; to preserve public order; enhance civil liberty and maintain racial harmony. | |
15 November | New Istana Negara building, the house of Yang Di-Pertuan Agong in Jalan Duta was officially opened by then Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin. Later, the house was moved from the old palace to there. | |
21 November | Malaysian football team wins gold medal after beating Indonesia 4-3 in the penalty shootout after tied 1-1 at the 2011 SEA Games football men's final in Indonesia. | |
13 December | Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah of Kedah is elected as the country's 14th Yang di-Pertuan Agong for the second time and Sultan Muhammad V of Kelantan is elected as the Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong. | |
2012 | 9 January | Anwar Ibrahim was acquitted from sodomy charges by the Kuala Lumpur High Court. During that time, 3 explosives blown up in middle of Anwar's supporters. |
28 April | Bersih 3.0 rally was held. | |
9 May | Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012, which known as SOSMA, a controversial law was passed by Parliament, replaced and repealed ISA 1960. This Act would be effective later on 31 July. | |
6 July | Lenggong became a cultural UNESCO World Heritage Site. | |
2013 | 11 February | 2013 Lahad Datu standoff: Sulu Militants has arrived on the beach quietly in Lahad Datu, Sabah. Due to that, negotiations started between Malaysian government and Sulu militants to resolve this intrusion. |
1 March | 2013 Lahad Datu standoff: First shootout between the sultanate's forces and the police at the Tanduo village, leaving two police officers and 12 sultanate's men killed. | |
3 March | 2013 Lahad Datu standoff: Ambushed at the Semporna, killing six police officers and six terrorists also killed. | |
5 March | 2013 Lahad Datu standoff: Military and police begun mopping-up operations codenamed "Ops Daulat". | |
5 May | Election was held. The results showed that BN has won but Opposition has popular votes for the first time. Despite that, BN has taken Kedah from Opposition. | |
2014 | 27 January | Kajang Move: The attempted replacement of Khalid Ibrahim as Menteri Besar (Chief Minister) of Selangor with Anwar Ibrahim starts a political crisis. |
8 March | Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 which carried 227 passengers and 12 crew members, was disappeared near Vietnamese sea border after took off from KLIA. The search and rescue was activated to find the missing plane. | |
24 March | Prime Minister, Najib Razak, announced that Flight MH370 was ended in southern Indian Ocean. | |
17 July | Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 shot down by missile in Donetsk, Ukraine near Russian border after took off from Amsterdam, Netherlands, killing all 283 passengers and 15 crew members aboard. | |
22 August | Bodies of 20 Malaysians of 43 which were killed in the MH17 incident last 17 July, has arrived in KLIA, Sepang, Selangor with a sombre ceremony at broadcast live on radio and television in National Mourning Day. | |
23 September | Kajang Move: The crisis concludes with the appointment of Parti KeADILan Rakyat Deputy President, Azmin Ali, as Menteri Besar. | |
15 December - 3 January 2015 | 2014–2015 Malaysia floods affected Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Sabah, Sarawak, Selangor and Terengganu, thus caused more than 500,000 people were affected and 21 were killed. This is worst floods disaster in decades. | |
2015 | 10 February | Anwar Ibrahim was sentenced 5 years of prison by the Federal Court for charged with his sodomy against his aide, Saiful Bukhari Azlan in 2008. |
1 April | Goods and Services Tax or known as GST, Malaysia's government value-added tax was implemented with existing standard rate of 6%. | |
5 June | Sabah earthquake has struck Ranau, Sabah and surrounding areas, caused 137 climbers were stranded on the Mount Kinabalu but were subsequently rescued later. As a result, 18 people dead including 10 Singaporeans, 2 both from China and Japan on the same mountain. | |
16 June | Pakatan Rakyat was declared to be dissolved after PAS left the coalition party citing the unavoidable differences between PAS and DAP. | |
2 July | The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) released a report alleging US$700 million (RM 2.6 billion) of deposits suspected to have originated with 1MDB have flowed into Najib Razak's personal bank accounts. [7] | |
29 July | Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister, replaced Muhyiddin Yassin for criticizing Najib Tun Razak due to 1MDB scandal. | |
29 - 30 August | Bersih 4.0 rally was held with surprisingly Tun Dr Mahathir and his wife who attended the rally in urging Najib Tun Razak to resign as Prime Minister. | |
22 September | Pakatan Harapan, new Opposition coalition party was formed, replaced previously Pakatan Rakyat. | |
2016 | 3 February | Mukhriz Mahathir, the son of Tun Dr Mahathir, resigned as Kedah Menteri Besar after he was lost the majority of support among the assemblymen due to his criticism towards Najib Tun Razak over 1MDB scandal. |
29 February | Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad left UMNO again for the second time in demand Najib Tun Razak to resign as Prime Minister | |
4 March | Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was launched Malaysian Citizens' Declaration with cooperation from opposition parties to demand Najib Tun Razak's resignation as Prime Minister. | |
24 June | UMNO Deputy President, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and UMNO Kedah leader, Mukhriz Mahathir were sacked from the party due to their cooperation with other opposition parties to demand Najib Tun Razak to resign. Meanwhile, UMNO Vice President, Shafie Apdal was suspended due to his criticism to Najib Tun Razak leadership but he left UMNO several days later. | |
21 July | The United States Department of Justice files a civil suit to seize assets it alleges were bought with funds stolen from 1MDB. The suit says $681m found its way into the personal account of ‘Malaysian Official 1’, who later identified as Najib by both the US and a Malaysian minister | |
10 August | Tun Dr Mahathir was founded his new party, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia or known as BERSATU with former UMNO leaders, Muhyiddin Yassin and Mukhriz Mahathir in opposition to then premiership of Najib Tun Razak. | |
17 October | Former UMNO Vice President, Shafie Apdal was formed new Sabah party, Parti Warisan Sabah or known as WARISAN. | |
19 November | Bersih 5.0 rally was held. | |
2017 | 13 February | Kim Jong-nam, eldest son of North Korean leader Kim Jong II was murdered after he was grabbed and his face smeared with some dangerous nerve agent VX poison at Kuala Lumpur International Airport after . [8] |
15 February | A Vietnamese, Doan Thi Huong was detained at the KLIA terminal where Kim was killed. An Indonesian, Siti Aisyah was also detained the next day. Both of them later claimed that they were framed when they were hired to trick him in so-called funny television show at the terminal. | |
16 February | Police arrested North Korean Ri Jong-chol, 47, who is believed to be a chemical expert over the Kim Jong Nam death but he was later released due to lack of evidence and deported from the country. | |
17 February | Police announced they were looking for seven North Korean suspects in connection with the Kim Jong Nam murder. Police later said four of them were believed to have left the country and later sought Interpol's help to detain them. | |
4 March | North Korean Ambassador Kang Chol has been expelled by Malaysia government for he was denounced Malaysia's investigations into Kim Jong Nam's murder and accused Kuala Lumpur of colluding with outside forces to defame Pyongyang. He was also given 48 hours to clear the ambassador and leave the country. | |
7 March | In response to expel, North Korea government banned Malaysian citizens from leaving the country as tension escalated over Kim's killing. Malaysia responded with a similar ban soon after. | |
19 - 30 August | 2017 SEA Games was held in National Stadium Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur, resulted Malaysia at the top 1 ranking with 145 gold medals, followed by 90 silver and 86 bronze medals. | |
14 September | 23 people, most of them students, were killed in a fire that broke out at Darul Quran Ittifaqiyah, a tahfiz (religious) school in Datuk Keramat, Kuala Lumpur. This tragedy was caused by arson which conducted by outsiders drug addicts, resulted 7 suspects were arrested. | |
2018 | 9 May | Pakatan Harapan who led by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has won the 14th General Election (GE14), defeated Barisan Nasional who led by Prime Minister, Najib Tun Razak after 61 years of BN ruling, marked the first change of government coalition since Independence. |
10 May | Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was sworn in as seventh Prime Minister for the second time. He was the world's oldest leader to become Prime Minister at the age of 93. | |
Sabah party, UPKO was left BN coalition party. | ||
11 May | 2 Sabah parties, PBRS and LDP also was left BN coalition party. | |
12 May | Former Prime Minister, Najib Tun Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor are barred from leaving Malaysia. | |
Former Prime Minister, Najib Tun Razak step down as UMNO President and BN chairman due to BN loss in GE14. | ||
Sabah party, United Sabah Party was left BN coalition government. | ||
16 May | Anwar Ibrahim was free from prison after given royal pardon by then Agong, Sultan Muhammad V. | |
21 May | Anwar's wife, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister. She became the first woman to be Deputy Prime Minister in history. | |
1 June | GST rate reduced from 6% to 0% as promised by Pakatan Harapan government. | |
11 June | 4 Sarawak main party, PBB, PRS, PDP and SUPP were left BN coalition party, gave formation of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) | |
23 June | GERAKAN left BN coalition party. | |
3 July | Najib Tun Razak was arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC). He is charged with four counts of CBT and abuse of power over RM 42 million transferred into his private account from SRC International the following day | |
1 September | Sales and Service Tax (SST) was introduced, replaced GST. | |
26 - 27 November | The 2018 Sri Maha Mariamman Temple riot, which took place for two days at the temple site in Subang Jaya, Selangor, originated from a disagreement between the temple and the developer, One City Development Sdn. Bhd., concerning the transfer of the temple. This led to property damage, widespread media coverage, and the death of firefighter Muhammad Adib bin Mohd Kassim, who passed away 21 days after the second day of the riot. | |
8 December | The anti-ICERD rally was organised by opposition right-wing political parties PAS and UMNO, with the support of various non-governmental organisations in response to the PH government plan to ratify the United Nations convention known as ICERD. [9] | |
2019 | 6 January | Sultan Muhammad V of Kelantan has stepped down as Yang Di-Pertuan Agong, marking that he was the first King of Malaysia to resign in history. |
24 January | Sultan Abdullah of Pahang has been declared as the next Yang-Di Pertuan Agong after the decision was made in the Rulers Conference at Istana Negara. | |
14 September | New Malaysian coalition party, Muafakat Nasional was formed due to cooperation between UMNO and PAS against Pakatan Harapan. | |
2020 | 25 January | The first cases of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) were detected in Malaysia among travellers from China in Johor. [10] [11] |
4 February | First Malaysian tested positive for COVID-19. [12] | |
23 February | Several political leaders went to Istana Negara to grant an audience with Agong, Sultan Abdullah to purposely seek a change of government. | |
Several Members of Parliament including government and opposition attended the dinner at the Sheraton Hotel, marked the beginning of political events which known as "Sheraton Move". | ||
24 February | Mahathir Mohamad resigned as the seventh Prime Minister of Malaysia due to the country's political crisis. [13] | |
BERSATU left Pakatan Harapan coalition. | ||
PKR Deputy President, Azmin Ali and Vice President, Zuraida Kamaruddin were sacked due to their betrayal of Pakatan Harapan. Eight other Members of Parliament who aligned to Azmin's camp, left PKR. | ||
Pakatan Harapan government automatically fell after 22 months of ruling since GE14 in 2018. | ||
Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Abdullah appointed Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad as interim Prime Minister for a while until a new Prime Minister candidate will be chosen. | ||
25 February | Istana Negara announced that the Agong interview session was held to collect statements from every Members of Parliament on choosing who will be the Prime Minister. | |
26 February | Sultan Johor ordered all 56 members of the State Assembly to meet at Johor palace due to believed hung state assembly which occurred after BERSATU left Pakatan Harapan coalition. | |
Hung Melaka State Assembly was occurred after BERSATU left PH, caused Melaka Chief Minister, Adly Zahari brief Melaka Yang-Di Pertuan Negeri about the political situation in the state. | ||
27 February | Johor Palace announced that a new coalition party will lead the Johor government with BN, BERSATU and PAS, thus ending PH leadership for the Johor government. | |
Hung Perak State Assembly occurred after BERSATU left PH, causing BN Perak to inform Perak Sultan about the political situation in the state. | ||
Kedah Menteri Besar, Mukhriz Mahathir stated that PH Kedah government still stayed on despite ongoing political crisis at the federal level. | ||
28 February | BERSATU announced that his party will choose Muhyiddin Yassin as Prime Minister candidate, supported by BN and PAS. | |
Hasni Mohammad from UMNO, was sworn in as new Johor Menteri Besar in front of the Sultan at Istana Bukit Serene, Johor Bahru. | ||
29 February | Pakatan Harapan announced that Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been chosen as the Prime Minister candidate after finding out that Muhyiddin Yassin is Prime Minister candidate with support from BN, BERSATU and PAS. | |
BERSATU president, Muhyiddin with the support of BN and PAS was granted an audience with Agong to form a new government with a new coalition party, Perikatan Nasional. | ||
Rulers Conference decided that Muhyiddin was having enough support of the majority to be the new Prime Minister. | ||
1 March | Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin was appointed as eighth Prime Minister. | |
2 March | BN Melaka declared that the PH Melaka government collapsed due to BERSATU and some PH State Assembly members' defection to BN, thus automatically sacked Adly Zahari as Melaka Chief Minister after he lost enough majority. | |
4 March | 14 new cases were reported in this day, marked the new spike of COVID-19 virus in the country. | |
6 March | COVID-19 cases rose very fast with a new spike of 28 COVID-19 new cases, thus recording 83 new cases since the beginning of the pandemic. | |
9 March | Sulaiman Md Ali from UMNO was sworn in as new Melaka Chief Minister. | |
Perak Menteri Besar, Ahmad Faizal Azumu announced that a new coalition party would lead the Perak government, ending PH leadership for the Perak government. Faizal has resigned as Perak Menteri Besar the next day. | ||
13 March | Highest daily COVID-19 new cases were recorded with 42 COVID-19 new cases, caused 200 new cases were reported. | |
Ahmad Faizal Azumu from BERSATU was reappointed as Perak Menteri Besar. | ||
15 March | 186 COVID-19 new cases were reported, marking the highest daily of COVID-19 new cases in the daily, causing 428 new cases in total. | |
16 March | Due to health concerns over the spike of new COVID-19 cases in recent days, Prime Minister, Muhyiddin Yassin announced nationwide lockdown which known as nationwide lockdown known as the Movement Control Order (MCO) with blocked several major roads, closure of nation's border and crowded places such as offices, shops, schools, mosque etc. | |
17 March | The first 2 Malaysians death from the COVID-19 pandemic were reported. | |
18 March | Movement Control Order (MCO) lockdown was imposed in response to the emerging COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia. [14] | |
COVID-19 rules were implemented including wearing a face mask, use of hand sanitiser and get health checks. | ||
General mass movements and gatherings across the country including religious, sports, social and cultural activities were prohibited. | ||
Government and private offices, business premises, schools and high education institutions were closed. | ||
Malaysia border was blocked with the closure of several major airports and the Johor-Singapore causeway. | ||
Police conducted nationwide roadblocks to monitor travellers on several major roads and highways and warn them to stay home and abide by the order. | ||
Penalties were given to those travellers if they violated the MCO rules. | ||
20 March | More than 1,000 COVID-19 cases were reported in total since the beginning of the virus pandemic last January. | |
23 March | Highest daily COVID-19 new cases were recorded with 212 cases reported. | |
25 March | MCO lockdown was extended from 1 April to 14 April due to a continuous spike of COVID-19 new cases. | |
26 March | More than 2,000 COVID-19 cases were reported. | |
2 April | More than 3,000 COVID-19 cases were reported. | |
8 April | More than 4,000 COVID-19 cases were reported. | |
10 April | MCO lockdown was extended again from 14 April until 28 April. | |
15 April | More than 5,000 COVID-19 cases were reported. | |
30 April | More than 6,000 COVID-19 cases were reported. | |
12 May | Kedah Opposition party announced that the Pakatan Harapan government collapsed due to PKR defection to Perikatan Nasional but Mukhriz Mahathir vowed to stay on despite the announcement. | |
17 May | Mukhriz Mahathir resigned as Kedah Menteri Besar after he loss confidence of the Kedah State Assembly. That same day, Sanusi Md Nor was sworn in as new Kedah Menteri Besar. | |
18 May | In a royal address during a Parliament sitting, then Agong called on all politicians not to drag the country into any further political crisis when there was already a COVID-19 pandemic crisis in Malaysia. | |
28 May | BERSATU chairman, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad along with Mukhriz Mahathir, Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman, Maszlee Malik and Amiruddin Hamzah were expelled from the party. | |
1 July | 1 new cases were reported, marked the lowest COVID-19 new cases in daily. | |
28 July | The High Court convicted former prime minister Najib Razak on all seven counts of abuse of power, money laundering and criminal breach of trust, becoming the first Prime Minister of Malaysia to be convicted of corruption, [15] [16] and was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment and fined RM210 million. [17] [18] | |
29 July | Former Sabah Chief Minister, Musa Aman announced that WARISAN government collapsed and has able to form Perikatan Nasional government in the state | |
30 July | In response to yesterday's announcement, Sabah Chief Minister, Shafie Apdal announced the dissolution of Sabah State Assembly, thus caused state snap election to take place. | |
8 September | COVID-19 spike again with 100 new cases in daily. | |
23 September | Anwar Ibrahim was announced that PH claimed enough majority support to become Malaysian government. That same day, Prime Minister, Muhyiddin Yassin dismissed Anwar's claim and stated that Perikatan Nasional government still stayed on. | |
26 September | 2020 Sabah state election was held, resulted new Sabah's coalition party, Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) has won thin majority with 38 seats, followed by rival coalition party, WARISAN with 32 seats. | |
1 October | COVID-19 new cases reached 260 in the daily. | |
3 October | Highest daily COVID-19 new cases was broke with 317 cases were reported. | |
5 October | Highest daily COVID-19 new cases was broke with 432 cases were reported. | |
6 October | Highest daily COVID-19 new cases was broke with 691 cases were reported. | |
17 October | Highest daily COVID-19 new cases was broke with 869 cases were reported. | |
23 October | Prime Minister, Muhyiddin Yassin has granted audience with Agong to declare Emergency in proposedly ease political situation during COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia. | |
24 October | Highest daily COVID-19 new cases was broke with 1,228 cases were reported. | |
25 October | Istana Negara decided that Emergency will not be declared at this time. | |
6 November | Highest daily COVID-19 new cases was broke with 1,755 cases were reported. | |
24 November | Highest daily COVID-19 new cases was broke with 2,188 cases were reported | |
31 December | Highest daily COVID-19 new cases was broke with 2,525 cases were reported | |
2021 | 7 January | Highest 3,027 COVID-19 new cases reported in daily. |
12 January | The 2021 Malaysian state of emergency was declared with the approval of the government's request by Agong under Article 150 of the Malaysian Constitution to ease tense politics in containing the COVID-19 pandemic effectively from 12 January 2021 to 1 August 2021. | |
16 January | Highest 4,029 COVID-19 new cases reported in daily. | |
29 January | Highest 5,725 COVID-19 new cases reported in daily. | |
18 February | High Court orders Rosmah Mansor, the wife of former Prime Minister Najib Razak to enter defence on all three graft charges. [19] | |
21 February | The first shipment of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine has officially arrived at KLIA Cargo after months of anticipation, with the implementation of the National COVID-19 Immunisation Programme which was set to begin in phases from February 26 onward. | |
24 February | Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin became the first person in Malaysia to receive a COVID-19 vaccine shot as the country rolled out its nationwide vaccination campaign two days earlier than scheduled. | |
19 May | Highest 6,075 COVID-19 new cases reported in daily. | |
25 May | Highest 7,289 COVID-19 new cases reported in daily. | |
28 May | The 2 LRT trains collision occurred on the Kelana Jaya line between Kampung Baru and KLCC stations in Kuala Lumpur, causing 213 people to be injured. | |
Highest 8,290 COVID-19 new cases reported in daily. | ||
29 May | Highest 9,020 COVID-19 new cases and 98 COVID-19 deaths reported in daily. | |
2 June | Highest 126 COVID-19 deaths reported in daily. | |
15 June | National Recovery Plan (NRP), an implementation plan consisting the 4 phases to revive the Malaysian economy, which has been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, was introduced. | |
16 June | The King of Sultan Abdullah announced that Parliament would be convened as soon as possible to address several issues related to COVID-19 issue in Malaysia. | |
5 July | The King of Sultan Abdullah under the agreement of the Malaysian's government allowed Parliament to be held on 26 July before the Emergency which ends in August. | |
7 July | Ismail Sabri Yaakob was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister. | |
8 July | UMNO President, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that UMNO has withdrawn support for Muhyiddin and Perikatan Nasional government immediately because some UMNO conditions to Perikatan Nasional government were not fulfilled. | |
Highest 126 COVID-19 deaths reported in daily. | ||
13 July | Highest 11,079 COVID-19 new cases reported in daily. | |
15 July | Highest 13,215 COVID-19 new cases reported in daily. | |
18 July | Highest 153 COVID-19 deaths reported in daily. | |
21 July | Highest 199 COVID-19 deaths reported in daily. | |
23 July | Highest 15,573 COVID-19 new cases reported in daily. | |
25 July | Highest 17,045 COVID-19 new cases reported in daily. | |
26 July | Parliament meeting was opened in the middle of the COVID-19 crisis in Malaysia. | |
Highest 207 COVID-19 deaths reported in daily. | ||
29 July | King of Sultan Abdullah was very disappointed that the cancellation of the Emergency Ordinance has not been approved yet during Parliament sittings last 26 July. | |
2 August | Highest 219 COVID-19 deaths in daily. | |
3 August | UMNO President, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi announced that UMNO withdrew its support for Muhyiddin Yassin as Prime Minister along with 10 other UMNO Members of Parliament for his government's failure to the King of Malaysia and tackle COVID-19 crisis in Malaysia. | |
4 August | Prime Minister, Muhyiddin Yassin announced that he remained as Prime Minister with the support of Perikatan Nasional, UMNO, GPS, GRS and others, thus he would be having a confidence vote to be held this September. | |
Highest 19,819 COVID-19 new cases and 257 COVID-19 deaths reported in daily. | ||
5 August | Highest 20,596 COVID-19 new cases reported in daily. | |
6 August | Deputy Prime Minister, Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that 31 Barisan Nasional Members of Parliament would supported Muhyiddin Yassin as Prime Minister and Perikatan Nasional government. | |
8 August | Highest 360 COVID-19 deaths reported in daily. | |
12 August | Highest 21,668 COVID-19 new cases reported in daily. | |
16 August | Muhyiddin Yassin has announced his resignation as Prime Minister, thus his cabinet automatically resigned as well. He remained as caretaker prime minister for a while before a new PM is appointed. [20] [21] | |
18 August | Highest 22,242 COVID-19 new cases reported in daily. | |
20 August | Highest 23,564 COVID-19 new cases reported in daily. | |
21 August | Ismail Sabri Yaakob was sworn in as the ninth Prime Minister. [22] | |
26 August | Highest 24,599 COVID-19 new cases and 393 COVID-19 deaths reported in daily. | |
11 September | Highest 592 COVID-19 deaths reported in daily. | |
20 November | The snap election was held in Melaka and resulted in the Barisan Nasional (BN) winning most of the seats to form the Melaka government. | |
8 December | The Court of Appeal upholds the conviction and sentence of former prime minister Najib Razak. [23] | |
18 December | Sarawak state election was held, resulting in Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) has won most of the seats to form the Sarawak government. | |
2022 | 12 March | The snap election was held in Johor, resulted in Barisan Nasional (BN) has won most of the seats to form the Johor government. |
23 August | The Federal Court of Malaysia upholds the conviction of Najib Razak. He begins his 12-year sentence in Kajang Prison the very same day. He however continues to attend trials for other corruption cases. | |
19 November | The 15th Malaysian general election (GE15) was held, and the result showed Pakatan Harapan has won 82 seats followed by 74 seats from Perikatan Nasional and 30 seats from Barisan Nasional, producing a hung parliament where none of the party coalition will reach 112 majority seats to become the government. | |
24 November | Anwar Ibrahim was appointed as the tenth Prime Minister after decided by the Rulers Conference in Istana Negara. He would lead the country with a unity government which consists of PH, BN, GPS, WARISAN and other Independent. This event marked the end of 24 years of Prime Minister waiting since Reformasi in 1998. | |
3 December | Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister for the second time and Fadillah Yusof also as Deputy Prime Minister II, the first 2 Deputy Prime Minister in history. | |
16 December | The landslide struck 3 sections including some tents from Father's Organic Farm in Batang Kali, Selangor, killing 31 people and 61 people survived the disaster. | |
2023 | 27 January | UMNO sacked Khairy Jamaluddin and Noh Omar from the party and also suspended Hishamuddin Tun Hussein and 3 other UMNO leaders for violating the party's Constitution by helping a rival coalition party to win in the last GE15. |
12 March | Famous Malaysian actress, Michelle Yeoh from the 2022 American film, Everything Everywhere All at Once won Best Actress during the 95th Academy Awards, marking the first Malaysian to achieve the world's most prestigious and significant awards. | |
17 August | A Beechcraft 390 Premier I business jet, carrying passengers including Johari Harun, a member of the Pahang State Executive Council and the Pahang State Legislative Assembly representative for Pelangai, crashed onto an expressway interchange near Elmina in Sungai Buloh, Selangor, Malaysia, resulting in the tragic deaths of ten people. | |
Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak is a Malaysian politician who served as the sixth Prime Minister of Malaysia from 2009 to 2018. In 2020, he was convicted of corruption in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal, one of the largest money-laundering and embezzlement scandals in history. He is the son of former prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein. Najib Razak was the chairman of the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition from April 2009 to May 2018 and the president of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) from November 2008 to May 2018, which had maintained control of Malaysia's government with a parliamentary majority for more than sixty years until the coalition's defeat in the 2018 general election.
Mahiaddin bin Md. Yasin, commonly known as Muhyiddin bin Mohd. Yassin, is a Malaysian politician who served as the eighth Prime Minister of Malaysia from 2020 to 2021. Appointed as prime minister amid a political crisis, Muhyiddin served for 17 months and resigned after losing parliamentary support.
The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, abbreviated MACC or SPRM, is a government agency in Malaysia that investigates and prosecutes corruption in the public and private sectors. The MACC was modelled after top anti-corruption agencies, such as the Independent Commission Against Corruption of Hong Kong and the Independent Commission Against Corruption in New South Wales (ICAC), Australia.
Rosmah binti Mansor is the second wife of former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Najib Razak. Like her husband, she was implicated in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal (1MDB). On 1 September 2022, she was found guilty of corruption in relation to a school electricity project, fined $303m and sentenced to ten years imprisonment.
According to a 2013 public survey in Malaysia by Transparency International, a majority of the surveyed households perceived Malaysian political parties to be highly corrupt. A quarter of the surveyed households consider the government's efforts in the fight against corruption to be ineffective. Corruption in Malaysia generally involves political connections still playing an important role in the outcome of public tenders.
The 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal, often referred to as the 1MDB scandal or just 1MDB, is an ongoing corruption, bribery and money laundering conspiracy in which the Malaysian sovereign wealth fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) was systematically embezzled, with assets diverted globally by the perpetrators of the scheme. Although it began in 2009 in Malaysia, the scandal's global scope implicated institutions and individuals in politics, banking, and entertainment, and led to criminal investigations in a number of nations. The 1MDB scandal has been described as "one of the world's greatest financial scandals" and declared by the United States Department of Justice as the "largest kleptocracy case to date" in 2016.
The Malay Dignity rally was a rally that took place on 16 September 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The rally was organised by National Silat Federation, a silat Melayu federation of Malaysia. The rally aimed to counter the Bersih 4 rally and to show support for the incumbent Prime Minister of Malaysia, Najib Razak and his government. 16 September is the day of Malaysia's establishment. The rally organiser, also an UMNO Supreme Council member, Annuar Musa admitted that the rally was racist in nature and participants were paid to take part in the rally. Medias reported that some of the participants who were ferried into Kuala Lumpur by buses from various parts of the country revealed they were clueless about the purpose of the rally, saying they were given the red T-shirts, while an independent polling centre found that only 24% of Malays supported the rally, and 53% opposed it.
2018 in Malaysia is Malaysia's 61st anniversary of its independence and 55th anniversary of Malaysia's formation.
The Malaysian United Indigenous Party, abbreviated BERSATU or PPBM, is a nationalist political party in Malaysia. The party was preceded by the United Indigenous Association of Malaysia and founded by members of the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) rebel group Gabungan Ketua Cawangan Malaysia. It is a major component of the Perikatan Nasional coalition.
Mohamed Apandi bin Ali is a Malaysian lawyer and politician who was the Attorney General of Malaysia from 2015 to 2018. Six months after assuming office, he cleared then prime minister Najib Razak of any wrongdoing in the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and SRC International cases and marked the investigation for "no further action".
Events in the year 2020 in Malaysia.
The 2020–2022 Malaysian political crisis was triggered after several Members of Parliament (MPs) of the 14th Malaysian Parliament changed party support, leading to the loss of a parliamentary majority, the collapse of two successive coalition governments, and the resignation of two Prime Ministers. The political crisis culminated in a 2022 snap general election and eventual formation of a coalition government.
Azhar bin Azizan Harun, also known as Art Harun, is a Malaysian politician and lawyer who served as the 10th Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat from July 2020 to December 2022 and the 9th Chairman of the Election Commission (EC) from September 2018 to his resignation in June 2020.
Events in the year 2021 in Malaysia.
Ti Lian Ker is a Malaysian politician who served as a Senator from August 2018 to August 2024, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports in the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration under former Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and former Minister Ahmad Faizal Azumu from August 2021 to the collapse of the BN administration in November 2022 and as Deputy Minister of National Unity in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration under Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and former Minister Halimah Mohamed Sadique from May 2020 to the collapse of the PN administration in August 2021 as well as Member of the Pahang State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Teruntum from March 2004 to March 2008 and for Indera Mahkota from April 1995 to March 2004. He is a member and the Division Chief of Kuantan of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), a component party of the BN coalition. He had also served as a Vice President of MCA from November 2018 to September 2023.
Events in the year 2022 in Malaysia.
The 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal is an ongoing political scandal in Malaysia, in which then-Prime Minister Najib Razak was accused of channeling over RM 2.67 billion into his personal bank accounts from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), a government-run strategic development company. 1MDB was overseen by Najib as head of its advisory board. Following repeated calls for resignation by the public, Najib lost power in the 2018 Malaysian general election, and is currently on trial along with several key figures involved.
Najib Razak is the 6th Prime Minister of Malaysia, the son of former 2nd prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein. One of the most controversial leaders of the 21st century, his period of rule was marked by corruption, an extravagant lifestyle, and crackdown on free speech.
Mahathir Mohamad's second term as the Prime Minister of Malaysia, which lasted from 2018 to 2020, was marked by several significant developments and events. Having previously led the country from 1981 to 2003, Mahathir came out of retirement in response to the 1MDB scandal. He led the opposition Pakatan Harapan coalition to victory in the 2018 general election, defeating Barisan Nasional and prime minister Najib Razak.