2018 in Malaysia explained
2018 in Malaysia is Malaysia's 61st anniversary of its independence and 55th anniversary of Malaysia's formation.
Incumbents
Federal Level
State level
Events
January
| Date | Event |
|---|
| 1 January | The nation's oldest shopping center, Ampang Park is officially closed.[1] |
| Astro Radio drops the "FM" suffix for all 11 radio stations as part of its re-branding.[2] |
| 3 January | Four Singaporeans including a child were an Indonesian rebels killed, while five others were injured in the accident involving five vehicles at the junction of Jalan Lukut-Sepang Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan. |
| 6 January | Mah Siew Keong who is also Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister had reportedly made several mistakes in a few lines leaving the audience amused during a joint rally with MCA. His speech has been edited into a viral video.[3] |
| 7 January | 14th Malaysian general election (GE14) :
|
| 8 January | The High Court in Kuala Lumpur has postponed the hearing of the defamation suit brought by Prime Minister Najib Razak against former MCA President Ling Liong Sik.[4] |
| 10 January | Former Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad not allowed by prison authorities to visit People's Justice Party (PKR) chief Anwar Ibrahim in Cheras Rehabilitation Hospital.[5] |
| 11 January | An actor and film director, Farid Kamil was arrested for allegedly assaulting a traffic policeman and a civilian at the Kota Damansara police station. He also tested positive for marijuana.[6] |
| 27 January | 50,000 Muslims gathered to pray for the Palestine's well-being and liberation of Palestine from Zionist tyranny near Palace of Justice, Putrajaya.[7] |
| 29 January | Malaysian netizen criticize and make jokes over the new logo of the Visit Malaysia Year 2020 campaign after it was presented at the launch of a promotion in Chiang Mai, Thailand.[8] Minister of Tourism and Culture, Nazri Aziz defend the logo and says criticism is normal, cannot get the consensus of the whole of Malaysia.[9] |
| Film Censorship Board of Malaysia banned Hindi film, Padmaavat because of elements sensitivity to the Muslim.[10] | |
February
| Date | Event |
|---|
| 1 February | Five individuals including two Nepali nationals, aged between 19 and 62 were rushed to Penang General Hospital after experiencing weakness, fatigue and unconsciousness as a result of consuming a kind of durian-flavoured premix coffee believed to have mixed with drug.[11] |
| 13 February | An Employees Provident Fund (EPF) building in Jalan Gasing, Petaling Jaya was nearly destroyed by a fire at 12 noon.[12] [13] |
| 22 February | Prime Minister Najib Razak mentioned that he had switched from rice to quinoa because it was better for his health. This had attracted torrents of criticisms and a flurry of Google searches on what exactly was quinoa.[14] |
| 23 February | The Prime Minister's Office has clarified that Prime Minister Najib Razak does not rely exclusively on quinoa for his daily nutrition. It said that quinoa was part of Najib's dietary regime because it was recommended by doctors.[15] | |
March
| Date | Event |
|---|
| 6 March | Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia has rejected an emergency motion which was filed to urge Prime Minister Najib Razak to explain attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali's statement that the government will not claim businessperson Jho Low's luxury yacht Equanimity.[16] |
| 8 March | The weekly magazine Economist featured an article titled “Stop, thief! Malaysia's PM is about to steal an election”.[17] |
| 11 March | The 1MDB scandal has made to the front page of leading Indonesian current affairs magazine Tempo.[18] |
| 16 March | Former MCA president Ling Liong Sik has failed to strike out the suit filed by Prime Minister Najib Razak.[19] |
| 21 March | Sand dredging vessel JBB Rong Chang 8 is reported to have capsized off Malaysia's southern state of Johor in the waters of Parit Jawa, Muar in which 14 crewmen were missing. Two crewmen were rescued barely alive from the engine room of the vessel by the Civil Defence personnel 50 hours after being trapped in the vessel.[20] [21] [22] | |
April
| Date | Event |
|---|
| 7 April | 14th Malaysian general election (GE14) :
|
| 10 April | The Jakarta Post said caretaker Prime Minister Najib Razak is reminiscent of former Indonesian president Suharto with his similar “manipulative” tactics. An editorial, the Indonesian daily said: "For Indonesians, the manipulative tactics being used by Malaysian leader Najib Razak to win the upcoming general election is a strong reminder of former president Suharto’s tricks during his 32-year rule."[24] |
| 28 April | 14th Malaysian general election (GE14) :- Candidate nominations for Parliament seats and state assembly seats were held on this day.
| |
May
14th Malaysian general election (GE14) :
- 9 May—The 14th general election was held on this day. For the first time in the country's history, the Barisan Nasional coalition was defeated by the opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan, only winning 79 seats against Pakatan Harapan's 121. The Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party won 18 seats while independents won 3 seats. Former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, who led Pakatan Harapan to victory, manage to defeat his protege Najib Razak,
- 10 May -- Mahathir Mohamad is sworn in as the seventh Prime Minister of Malaysia at 2130 hours (GMT+8), as he becomes the world's oldest elected state leader at the age of 92.[25] This marks his return to the position after holding the post previously for 22 years, from 1981 to 2003.
- 12 May --
- 13 May --
- Mahathir instructs Inland Revenue Board to return taxes collected 'illegally'.
- 14 May --
- Attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali goes on unrecorded leave, duties taken over by solicitor-general
- MACC chief Dzulkifli Ahmad resigns
- Treasurer general Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah's contract shortened, transferred to Public Service Department
- Mahathir says laws on fake news will be clearly defined
- Mahathir says political appointments in government-linked companies will be reviewed.
- 15 May --
- Audit Department declassifies its 1MDB report
- Council of Eminent Persons sets up a committee on institutional reforms, committee includes:
- Retired judge of Court of Appeal Datuk KC Vohrah;
- Retired judge of the Court of Appeal and Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) Commissioner Datuk Mah Weng Kwai;
- National Patriot Association President Brigadier General (Rtd) Datuk Mohamed Arshad Raji;
- University Malaya Tunku Abdul Rahman Professor of Law Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi;
- Hakam President and Bar Council former President Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan
- Apandi Ali, Irwan Serigar, Dzulkifli and former IGP Khalid Abu Bakar barred from leaving the country.
- 16 May --
- Pakatan Harapan de facto leader and former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is released from prison after being pardoned by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. He had served three years of his prison sentence.
- 1MDB president Arul Kanda Kandasamy is also barred from leaving the country
- Police search Najib's house and seize handbags and clothes
- Government announces GST will be zero-rated effective, 1 June 2018
- Mahathir to sack 17,000 political appointees from civil service
- Registrar of Societies approves Pakatan Harapan's registration.
- Ministries instructed to cease use of 1Malaysia slogan
- Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia 2.0 (KR1M) programme ceased
- Board meetings of the Cooperatives Commission of Malaysia and committees which have political appointees to be postponed.
- 17 May
- Police search at Najib's house continues
- Finance Ministry initiates fiscal reforms.
- 20 May
- Former executive of PetroSaudi whistleblower Swiss national Xavier Justo meets Mahathir [27]
- 21 May
- Special task force formed to investigate the 1MDB scandal as well as to prosecute wrongdoers and retrieve related assets. Task force would be jointly headed by former attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail, former MACC head Abu Kassim Mohamed, current MACC head Mohd Shukri Abdull and former special branch head Abdul Hamid Bador.
- Deputy prime minister Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and several federal ministers officially sworn in as members of cabinet.
- 22 May
June
July
| Date | Event |
|---|
| 1 July | Friendster closes down as a company after 16 years. |
| 2 July | New ministers in Pakatan Harapan's cabinet led by Mahathir were introduced.[32] Remaining members sworn in on that day completes cabinet line-up. |
| UMNO Sungai Besar Branch Chief, Datuk Seri Jamal Yunos was arrested by Indonesian police while having a hair cut at a barbershop in South Jakarta.[33] |
| 3 July | Former Prime Minister Najib Razak is arrested for allegedly stealing US$4.5 billion.[34] |
| 4 July | Najib was charged for the first time in the Sessions Court with three counts of CBT and one charge of abusing his post over SRC International Sdn Bhd's funds totalling RM42 million. The case was later transferred to the High Court.[35] |
| 16 July | Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohamad lead the 222 Members of Parliament to swear in as members of the Dewan Rakyat for the 14th term of the Malaysian Parliament.[36] |
| 17 July | Yang di-Pertuan Agong Muhammad V of Kelantan opens the first session of 14th Parliament in the Parliament building in Kuala Lumpur.[37] | |
August
| Date | Event |
|---|
| 8 August | Former prime minister Najib Razak was charged in the Sessions Court with three counts of having received RM42 million in proceeds from unlawful activities into two of his accounts four years ago, with the money belonging to SRC International Sdn Bhd.[38] [39] |
| Touch 'n Go stops selling SmartTAGs, with an RFID pilot to replace these devices starting next month.[40] |
| 10 August | High Court Judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali dismissed Najib's application for a gag order restraining the media and public from publishing statements on the merits of his criminal charges, which would infer Najib’s guilt pending the disposal of his case.[41] |
| 13 August | Najib filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal against the High Court refusal to issue an order restraining the media and public from publishing statements on the merits of his case.[42] |
| 19 August – 2 September | 2018 Asian Games :
|
| 31 August | Malaysia celebrated its 61st Independence Day. | |
September
October
November
- 6 November - Prime minister Mahathir Mohamad visited Japan, and received a medal of the Emperor of Japan.
- 15 November - Mahathir came back to Kuala Lumpur since end the 33rd Asean summit in Singapore.
December
- 4 December - A gas piping explosion in one of the food outlet at Cityone Megamall in Kuching, Sarawak resulted in 3 deaths and 22 injuries.[57]
- 8 December - The Anti-ICERD Rally was organised by opposition right-wing political parties Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) and United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), with the support of various non-governmental organisations in response to the new Malaysian government's plan to ratify the United Nations convention known as International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).[58]
- 16 December - Mohd Hafiz Nor Azman, a 22-year-old motorcycle racer was killed in an accident when competing at the Petronas AAM Malaysian Cub Prix championships at Dataran Bandar Penawar, Johor.[59]
- 17 December - Malaysia files criminal charges against Goldman Sachs and two former executives over bond sales it organized for 1MDB.[60]
- 18 December - High Court rejected former prime minister Najib Razak’s request to get the letter of authorisation (fiat) on the appointment of lead prosecutor Sulaiman Abdullah, and his application for discovery of documents pertaining to the case.[61]
National Day and Malaysia Day
National Day theme
Sayangi Malaysiaku (Love My Malaysia)
National Day parade
Putrajaya
Malaysia Day celebration
Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Sports
Deaths
See also
Notes and References
- Web site: Tearing down of Ampang Park shopping centre under way - Metro News The Star Online. www.thestar.com.my. 2018-01-29.
- News: With multiplatform the new reality, Astro Radio drops 'FM', refreshes 11 brands. 2018-01-02. Digital News Asia. 2018-01-29. en.
- Web site: Mah Siew Keong, the new viral video star, takes it in stride - Nation The Star Online. www.thestar.com.my. 2018-01-27.
- Web site: Chie . Kow Gah . 2018-01-08 . Court postpones hearing of Najib's suit against ex-MCA president . Malaysiakini.
- Web site: Tun Mahathir barred from visiting Anwar. www.thesundaily.my. en. 2018-01-27.
- News: Actor Farid Kamil arrested for allegedly assaulting cop, civilian in police station. 2018-01-11. 2018-01-27.
- Web site: Nasional Berita Harian. www.bharian.com.my. ms. 2018-01-27.
- News: Visit Malaysia 2020 logo panned as a 'joke'. 2018-01-27. Free Malaysia Today. 2018-01-29. en-US. 2020-09-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20200911173033/https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2018/01/27/visit-malaysia-2020-logo-panned-as-a-joke/. dead.
- Web site: Nazri: We stand by the Visit Malaysia 2020 logo despite the flak - Nation The Star Online. www.thestar.com.my. 2018-01-29.
- News: Hindi film on Hindu-Muslim love affair too sensitive, say censors. 2018-01-29. Free Malaysia Today. 2018-01-29. en-US. 2019-04-19. https://web.archive.org/web/20190419171151/https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2018/01/29/hindi-film-on-hindu-muslim-love-affair-too-sensitive-say-censors/. dead.
- Web site: Penang durian coffee passed food safety tests, released from recall: AVA . 2018-07-02 . 2018-07-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180702093712/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/penang-durian-coffee-passed-food-safety-tests-released-from-9999356 . dead .
- Web site: EPF fire: No, your retirement plan is not up in smoke. The Star (Malaysia). 13 February 2018. 13 February 2018.
- Web site: EPF to Investigate Cause of PJ Office Fire . 2018-07-02 . 2018-07-02 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180702122655/http://www.kwsp.gov.my/portal/en/news-listing-page?p_p_id=newslisting_WAR_newshighlightsportlet&p_p_state=normal&_newslisting_WAR_newshighlightsportlet_jspPage=%2Fdisplay%2Fnews_content.jsp&_newslisting_WAR_newshighlightsportlet_primaryKey=154203&_newslisting_WAR_newshighlightsportlet_isDetailPage=true . dead .
- Web site: Hoong . Lu Wei . 2018-02-22 . DAP MP 'cooks' Najib over switching from rice to quinoa remark . Malaysiakini.
- Web site: 2018-02-23 . PMO: Najib doesn't eat quinoa exclusively . Malaysiakini.
- Web site: Azhar . Alyaa . 2018-03-06 . Speaker sinks emergency motion on Equanimity . Malaysiakini.
- Web site: 2018-03-09 . Report: Najib to 'steal' GE14 by rigging the system . Malaysiakini.
- Web site: 2018-03-11 . 1MDB, Jho Low on front page of leading Indonesian magazine . Malaysiakini.
- Web site: Yatim . Hafiz . 2018-03-16 . Ex-MCA president fails to strike out Najib's suit . Malaysiakini.
- https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/03/24/two-rescued-after-50-hours-crew-members-were-trapped-in-an-air-pocket-within-capsized-vessel/ Two rescued after 50 hours
- http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news.php?id=104612&sid=3 Chinese dredger sinks in Malaysian waters, 14 missing
- https://www.nst.com.my/news/nation/2018/03/347671/chinese-sand-dredger-capsizes-muar-1-dead-14-believed-alive-sunken-hull Chinese sand-dredger capsizes off Muar; 1 dead, 14 believed alive in sunken hull
- https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/04/08/speaker-confirms-dissolution-now-its-in-the-hands-of-the-ec/ Speaker confirms dissolution
- Web site: 2018-04-11 . Indonesian daily: Najib's tactics similar to Suharto's . Malaysiakini.
- News: Malaysia's Mahathir Mohamad is now the world's oldest leader. Euan McKirdy . Marc Lourdes . Ushar Daniele. CNN. 11 May 2018.
- News: 2018-05-12 . Former Malaysia PM Najib Razak banned from leaving country . en-GB . BBC News .
- Web site: PetroSaudi whistleblower meets Dr M. 21 May 2018. Malaysiakini.
- News: 2018-05-22. Malaysia's embattled Najib questioned by anti-corruption agency. Reuters. 2018-05-22.
- Web site: Auto . Hermes . 2018-06-05 . Ex-PM Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor questioned for five hours by Malaysia anti-graft agency over 1MDB funds . www.straitstimes.com . en.
- Web site: Auto. Hermes. 2018-06-20. After meeting Altantuya's dad, PM Mahathir 'agrees her murder case should be reopened'. 2022-01-25. www.straitstimes.com. en.
- Web site: KAOS. JOSEPH Jr.. After meeting her father, Dr M agrees that Altantuya case should be re-opened. 2022-01-25. The Star. en.
- Web site: Remaining Cabinet members sworn in . 2018-07-03 . 2018-09-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180909151150/https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2018/07/02/remaining-cabinet-members-sworn-in/ . dead .
- http://m.thesundaily.my/node/560929 Jamal Yunos caught in Indonesia
- Web site: Trump's 'favorite prime minister' arrested over theft of billions. MSNBC Rachel Maddow Show. July 3, 2018. Maddow. Rachel. March 18, 2019.
- News: 2018-07-04. Malaysia's ex-PM Najib charged with corruption over 1MDB. en-GB. BBC News. 25 February 2022.
- https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/07/16/its-a-new-parliament-swearing-in-begins/ It’s a new Parliament: Swearing-in begins
- https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/g/78169 Agong opens first session of 14th Parliament
- Web site: Hamdan. Nurbaiti. 2018-08-08. Najib charged with three counts under Anti-Money Laundering Act. 2018-08-08. The Star. en.
- News: 2018-08-08. Malaysia ex-PM Najib charged with money laundering. en-GB. BBC News. 2018-08-08.
- Web site: Nair . Sharmila . Touch 'n Go stops selling SmartTAGs, plans to kick off RFID pilot in September . The Star . 11 February 2022 . 8 August 2018.
- Web site: 2018-08-10. (Updated) High Court dismisses Najib's gag order application. NST Online. en.
- Web site: 2018-08-13. Najib Razak files appeal against gag order refusal. CNA. en.
- Web site: Malaysian contingent performed well in Asiad 2018: CDM. 2018-09-03. 2018-09-03. https://web.archive.org/web/20180903082446/http://www.thesundaily.my/news/2018/09/02/malaysian-contingent-performed-well-asiad-2018-cdm. dead.
- https://www.motorist.my/article/234/malaysian-car-prices-set-to-increase-with-sst Motorist.my,"Malaysian Car Prices Expected to Increase with SST Roll Out
- Web site: SST going smooth, complaints only on price of foods. Free Malaysia Today. 1 September 2018. 2 September 2018. 11 September 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200911020408/https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2018/09/01/sst-going-smooth-complaints-only-on-price-of-foods/?fmt=1. dead.
- Web site: Agencies . 2018-09-13 . Najib Razak's lawyer charged with money laundering by 1MDB investigators . the Guardian . en.
- Web site: 2018-09-20 . Former Malaysia PM Najib Razak faces new charges over missing $681m . the Guardian . en.
- Web site: Lin . Koh Jun . 2018-09-26 . BM edition of 'Billion Dollar Whale' to land in November . Malaysiakini.
- Web site: Mohd . Hariz . 2018-10-03 . Rosmah arrested, to be charged with money laundering tomorrow . Malaysiakini.
- Web site: Found: Body of teen whose rescue operation saw six firemen drown.
- Web site: Malaysia bags 17 gold in best ever Asian Para Games outing.
- Web site: 2018-10-18 . Zahid arrested by MACC . The Star . en.
- Web site: Sultan Sallehuddin installed as 29th Sultan of Kedah.
- Web site: Team . Malaysiakini . 2018-10-25 . Najib, Irwan charged with CBT over RM6.6b funds, bail RM1m each . Malaysiakini.
- Web site: 1MDB scandal: Najib Razak faces more charges over $1.6bn government coffer . amp.theguardian.com.
- Web site: Rahim . Raja Noraina Raja . 2018-10-26 . Negri Sembilan palace strips Najib, Rosmah of Datuk Seri titles . NST Online . en.
- Web site: Three killed in Kuching mall blast.
- Web site: PAS and Umno to hold anti-Icerd rally in KL on Dec 8 - Malaysiakini. Malaysiakini. 17 November 2018.
- Web site: Don't let it happen again, says distraught father.
- News: 2018-12-17 . Goldman Sachs fires back after Malaysia charges bank in 1MDB probe . Reuters .
- Web site: Karim. Khairah N.. 2018-12-18. Najib's defence team fails in bid to have letter of authority of lead prosecutor's appointment produced. NST Online. en.
- Web site: Former Selangor MB Abu Hassan Omar dies. 8 September 2018. New Straits Times. 9 September 2018 .
