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2018 in Malaysia

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2018
in
Malaysia

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Decades:
See also:Other events of 2018
History of Malaysia  • Timeline  • Years

2018 in Malaysia is Malaysia's 61st anniversary of its independence and 55th anniversary of Malaysia's formation.

Incumbents

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Federal Level

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Position Name
Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V of Kelantan
Raja Permaisuri Agong Vacant
Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah of Perak
Prime Minister Najib Razak (until 9 May)
Mahathir Mohamad (from 10 May)
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (until 9 May)
Wan Azizah Wan Ismail (from 21 May)
Chief Justice Md Raus Sharif (until 31 July)
Richard Malanjum (from 11 July)

State level

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State Position Name
 Johor Sultan of Johor Sultan Ibrahim Ismail
Menteri Besar of Johor Mohamed Khaled Nordin (until May 9)
Osman Sapian (from May 12)
 Kedah Sultan of Kedah Sultan Sallehuddin
Menteri Besar of Kedah Ahmad Bashah Md Hanipah (until May 9)
Mukhriz Mahathir (from May 10)
 Kelantan Sultan of Kelantan Tengku Muhammad Faiz Petra (regent)
Menteri Besar of Kelantan Ahmad Yaakob
 Perlis Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin
Menteri Besar of Perlis Azlan Man
 Perak Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Shah
Menteri Besar of Perak Zambry Abdul Kadir (until May 9)
Ahmad Faizal Azumu (from May 12)
 Pahang Sultan of Pahang Sultan Ahmad Shah
Menteri Besar of Pahang Adnan Yaakob (until May 14)
Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail (from May 15)
 Selangor Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah
Menteri Besar of Selangor Mohamed Azmin Ali (until June 19)
Amirudin Shari (from June 19)
 Terengganu Sultan of Terengganu Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin
Menteri Besar of Terengganu Ahmad Razif Abdul Rahman (until May 9)
Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar (from May 10)
 Negeri Sembilan Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz
Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan Mohamad Hasan (until May 9)
Aminuddin Harun (from May 11)
 Penang Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Penang Abdul Rahman Abbas
Chief Minister of Penang Lim Guan Eng (until May 9)
Chow Kon Yeow (from May 10)
 Malacca Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Malacca Mohd Khalil Yaakob
Chief Minister of Malacca Idris Haron (until May 9)
Adly Zahari (from May 10)
 Sarawak Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak Abdul Taib Mahmud
Chief Minister of Sarawak Abang Johari Openg
 Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sabah Juhar Mahiruddin
Chief Minister of Sabah Musa Aman (until May 12)
Shafie Apdal (from May 12)

Events

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January

[edit]
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

[edit]
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

[edit]
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

[edit]
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

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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:
      1. Retired judge of Court of Appeal Datuk KC Vohrah;
      2. Retired judge of the Court of Appeal and Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) Commissioner Datuk Mah Weng Kwai;
      3. National Patriot Association President Brigadier General (Rtd) Datuk Mohamed Arshad Raji;
      4. University Malaya Tunku Abdul Rahman Professor of Law Emeritus Professor Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi;
      5. 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

[edit]
Date Event
1 June The hugely unpopular Goods and Services Tax (GST) is reduced to 0% by the Malaysian Government.
5 June Tommy Thomas is officially appointed as the Attorney General, being the first non-Malay to be appointed to the post.
5 June Former prime minister Najib Razak's wife Rosmah Mansor left Malaysia's anti-graft agency headquarters after being quizzed for five hours as part of a probe into the alleged misappropriation of funds at SRC International, a former subsidiary of state investor 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).[29]
20 June Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad met the father of murdered Mongolian woman Altantuya Shaariibuu and agreed that the case should be reopened.[30][31]
27 June Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) celebrate its 20th anniversary.

July

[edit]
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

[edit]
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

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October

[edit]
Date Event
4 October Former prime minister Najib Razak's wife Rosmah Mansor has been arrested at the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) headquarters, where she was being questioned over her alleged role in the 1MDB scandal.[49]
Six firemen drowned while conducting an operation at a mining pool to search and rescue a drowned teenager.[50]
6 – 13 October 2018 Asian Para Games :
6 – 18 October 2018 Summer Youth Olympics :
18 October Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi has been arrested the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).[52]
22 October Sultan Sallehuddin ibni Almarhum Sultan Badlishah is installed as the 29th Sultan of Kedah.[53]
25 October Former prime minister Najib Razak and his former treasury secretary-general jointly are charged with six counts of criminal breach of trust over government payments linked to 1MDB.[54][55]
26 October The Negeri Sembilan palace has revoked the Datuk Seri titles that were conferred on former prime minister Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor.[56]

November

[edit]
  • 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

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National Day and Malaysia Day

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National Day theme

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Sayangi Malaysiaku (Love My Malaysia)

National Day parade

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Putrajaya

Malaysia Day celebration

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Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

Sports

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Deaths

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See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Tearing down of Ampang Park shopping centre under way - Metro News | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
  2. ^ "With multiplatform the new reality, Astro Radio drops 'FM', refreshes 11 brands". Digital News Asia. 2018-01-02. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
  3. ^ "Mah Siew Keong, the new viral video star, takes it in stride - Nation | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2018-01-27.
  4. ^ Chie, Kow Gah (2018-01-08). "Court postpones hearing of Najib's suit against ex-MCA president". Malaysiakini.
  5. ^ "Tun Mahathir barred from visiting Anwar". www.thesundaily.my. Retrieved 2018-01-27.
  6. ^ "Actor Farid Kamil arrested for allegedly assaulting cop, civilian in police station". 2018-01-11. Retrieved 2018-01-27.
  7. ^ "Nasional | Berita Harian". www.bharian.com.my (in Malay). Retrieved 2018-01-27.
  8. ^ "Visit Malaysia 2020 logo panned as a 'joke'". Free Malaysia Today. 2018-01-27. Archived from the original on 2020-09-11. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
  9. ^ "Nazri: We stand by the Visit Malaysia 2020 logo despite the flak - Nation | The Star Online". www.thestar.com.my. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
  10. ^ "Hindi film on Hindu-Muslim love affair too sensitive, say censors". Free Malaysia Today. 2018-01-29. Archived from the original on 2019-04-19. Retrieved 2018-01-29.
  11. ^ "Penang durian coffee passed food safety tests, released from recall: AVA". Archived from the original on 2018-07-02. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  12. ^ "EPF fire: No, your retirement plan is not up in smoke". The Star (Malaysia). 13 February 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  13. ^ "EPF to Investigate Cause of PJ Office Fire". Archived from the original on 2018-07-02. Retrieved 2018-07-02.
  14. ^ Hoong, Lu Wei (2018-02-22). "DAP MP 'cooks' Najib over switching from rice to quinoa remark". Malaysiakini.
  15. ^ "PMO: Najib doesn't eat quinoa exclusively". Malaysiakini. 2018-02-23.
  16. ^ Azhar, Alyaa (2018-03-06). "Speaker sinks emergency motion on Equanimity". Malaysiakini.
  17. ^ "Report: Najib to 'steal' GE14 by rigging the system". Malaysiakini. 2018-03-09.
  18. ^ "1MDB, Jho Low on front page of leading Indonesian magazine". Malaysiakini. 2018-03-11.
  19. ^ Yatim, Hafiz (2018-03-16). "Ex-MCA president fails to strike out Najib's suit". Malaysiakini.
  20. ^ Two rescued after 50 hours
  21. ^ Chinese dredger sinks in Malaysian waters, 14 missing
  22. ^ Chinese sand-dredger capsizes off Muar; 1 dead, 14 believed alive in sunken hull
  23. ^ Speaker confirms dissolution
  24. ^ "Indonesian daily: Najib's tactics similar to Suharto's". Malaysiakini. 2018-04-11.
  25. ^ Euan McKirdy; Marc Lourdes; Ushar Daniele. "Malaysia's Mahathir Mohamad is now the world's oldest leader". CNN. Retrieved 11 May 2018.
  26. ^ "Former Malaysia PM Najib Razak banned from leaving country". BBC News. 2018-05-12.
  27. ^ "PetroSaudi whistleblower meets Dr M". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  28. ^ "Malaysia's embattled Najib questioned by anti-corruption agency". Reuters. 2018-05-22. Retrieved 2018-05-22.
  29. ^ 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.
  30. ^ Auto, Hermes (2018-06-20). "After meeting Altantuya's dad, PM Mahathir 'agrees her murder case should be reopened'". www.straitstimes.com. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
  31. ^ KAOS, JOSEPH Jr. "After meeting her father, Dr M agrees that Altantuya case should be re-opened". The Star. Retrieved 2022-01-25.
  32. ^ "Remaining Cabinet members sworn in". Archived from the original on 2018-09-09. Retrieved 2018-07-03.
  33. ^ Jamal Yunos caught in Indonesia[permanent dead link‍]
  34. ^ Maddow, Rachel (July 3, 2018). "Trump's 'favorite prime minister' arrested over theft of billions". MSNBC Rachel Maddow Show. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  35. ^ "Malaysia's ex-PM Najib charged with corruption over 1MDB". BBC News. 2018-07-04. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  36. ^ It’s a new Parliament: Swearing-in begins
  37. ^ Agong opens first session of 14th Parliament
  38. ^ Hamdan, Nurbaiti (2018-08-08). "Najib charged with three counts under Anti-Money Laundering Act". The Star. Retrieved 2018-08-08.
  39. ^ "Malaysia ex-PM Najib charged with money laundering". BBC News. 2018-08-08. Retrieved 2018-08-08.
  40. ^ Nair, Sharmila (8 August 2018). "Touch 'n Go stops selling SmartTAGs, plans to kick off RFID pilot in September". The Star. Retrieved 11 February 2022.
  41. ^ "(Updated) High Court dismisses Najib's gag order application". NST Online. 2018-08-10.
  42. ^ "Najib Razak files appeal against gag order refusal". CNA. 2018-08-13.
  43. ^ "Malaysian contingent performed well in Asiad 2018: CDM". Archived from the original on 2018-09-03. Retrieved 2018-09-03.
  44. ^ Motorist.my,"Malaysian Car Prices Expected to Increase with SST Roll Out",September 2018"
  45. ^ "SST going smooth, complaints only on price of foods". Free Malaysia Today. 1 September 2018. Archived from the original on 11 September 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2018.
  46. ^ Agencies (2018-09-13). "Najib Razak's lawyer charged with money laundering by 1MDB investigators". the Guardian.
  47. ^ "Former Malaysia PM Najib Razak faces new charges over missing $681m". the Guardian. 2018-09-20.
  48. ^ Lin, Koh Jun (2018-09-26). "BM edition of 'Billion Dollar Whale' to land in November". Malaysiakini.
  49. ^ Mohd, Hariz (2018-10-03). "Rosmah arrested, to be charged with money laundering tomorrow". Malaysiakini.
  50. ^ "Found: Body of teen whose rescue operation saw six firemen drown".
  51. ^ "Malaysia bags 17 gold in best ever Asian Para Games outing".
  52. ^ "Zahid arrested by MACC". The Star. 2018-10-18.
  53. ^ "Sultan Sallehuddin installed as 29th Sultan of Kedah".
  54. ^ Team, Malaysiakini (2018-10-25). "Najib, Irwan charged with CBT over RM6.6b funds, bail RM1m each". Malaysiakini.
  55. ^ "1MDB scandal: Najib Razak faces more charges over $1.6bn government coffer". amp.theguardian.com.
  56. ^ Rahim, Raja Noraina Raja (2018-10-26). "Negri Sembilan palace strips Najib, Rosmah of Datuk Seri titles". NST Online.
  57. ^ "Three killed in Kuching mall blast".
  58. ^ "PAS and Umno to hold anti-Icerd rally in KL on Dec 8 - Malaysiakini". Malaysiakini. Retrieved 17 November 2018.
  59. ^ "Don't let it happen again, says distraught father".
  60. ^ "Goldman Sachs fires back after Malaysia charges bank in 1MDB probe". Reuters. 2018-12-17.
  61. ^ 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.
  62. ^ "Former Selangor MB Abu Hassan Omar dies". New Straits Times. 8 September 2018. Retrieved 9 September 2018.
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