1977 in Malaysia explained

This article lists important figures and events in Malaysian public affairs during the year 1977, together with births and deaths of notable Malaysians. MAS Flight 653 was hijacked and crashed in Johor on 16 December, killing 100 people.

Incumbent political figures

Federal level

Yang di-Pertuan Agong

Sultan Yahya Petra

Raja Permaisuri Agong

Raja Perempuan Zainab

Prime Minister

Tun Hussein Onn

Deputy Prime Minister

Dato' Dr Mahathir Mohamad

Lord President

Mohamed Suffian Mohamed Hashim

State level

Sultan of Johor: Sultan Ismail
Sultan of Kedah: Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah
Sultan of Kelantan: Tengku Ismail Petra (Regent)
Raja of Perlis: Tuanku Syed Putra
Sultan of Perak: Sultan Idris Shah II
Sultan of Pahang: Sultan Ahmad Shah (Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong)
Sultan of Selangor: Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah
Sultan of Terengganu: Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah
Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan: Tuanku Jaafar
Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Penang: Tun Sardon Jubir
Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Malacca: Tun Syed Zahiruddin bin Syed Hassan
Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Sarawak:
- Tun Tuanku Bujang Tuanku Othman (until February)
- Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin (from February)
Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Sabah:
- Tun Mohd Hamdan Abdullah (Until November)
- Tun Datuk Ahmad Koroh (From November)

Events

24 January – Former Selangor Menteri Besar, Datuk Harun Idris was found guilty and sentenced by the High Court to six months jail for forgery and fined RM 15,000 or six months jail for abetting criminal breach of trust involving nearly RM 6.5 million worth of Bank Rakyat's stocks and shares
1 February test colour by RTM
24 April – Five children were killed in a saloon racing car accident at the Batu Tiga Circuit during the Malaysian Grand Prix.
11 May – The Tugu Negara (National Monument) was finally repaired and restored to its original state.
June – Construction began on the North–South Expressway project.
7 July – The 25th anniversary of Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA) was celebrated.
8 August – The 10th anniversary of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was celebrated.
15 August – Communist Party of Malaya (CPM) assault group launched an ambush on the East–West Highway from Gerik, Perak to Jeli, Kelantan. Five soldiers from the 11th Battalion of the Askar Wataniah (Territorial Army) were ambushed by 30 Communist terrorists during left Post 8 for Post 5 on patrol and to obtain supplies.
27 September – Japan Airlines Flight 715 crashed at Subang, Selangor, killing 34 of the 79 people on board.
8 November – A State of emergency was declared in the state of Kelantan following a political impasse and street violence.
19–26 November – The 1977 Southeast Asian Games were held in Kuala Lumpur.
4 December – Malaysian Airline System Flight 653 was hijacked and crashed in Tanjung Kupang, Johor, killing all 100 people on board.^[1]

Births

17 February – Wong Choong Hann – Badminton player
Unknown date – Azmyl Yunor – Singer-songwriter

Deaths

14 January – Tan Sri Syed Jaabar Albar – UMNO General Secretary and Minister of Rural Development
10 October – Tun Mohd Hamdan Abdullah – Sabah state Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) (1977)
20 December – Tan Sri Nik Ahmad Kamil Nik Mahmud – Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (1974-1977)
Unknown date – Tun Abdul Malek Yusuf – Second Malacca state Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) (1959–1971)

References

News: Associated Press . 1977-12-05 . Hijacked Jet Crashes in Malaysia; All 100 Aboard Are Feared Dead . 2024-01-30 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.