1997 in Malaysia

← 1996 1995 1994 1997 in Malaysia → 1998 1999 2000
Decades:	1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s
See also:	Other events of 1997 Timeline of Malaysian history

1997 in Malaysia is the 40th anniversary of Malaysia's independence.

The Petronas Twin Towers.

Exchange Square, the headquarters of Bursa Malaysia

Jalur Gemilang, the Malaysian flag

Genting Skyway.

Incumbents

Federal level

• Yang di-Pertuan Agong: Tuanku Jaafar
• Raja Permaisuri Agong: Tuanku Najihah
• Prime Minister: Dato' Sri Dr Mahathir Mohammad
• Deputy Prime Minister: Dato' Sri Anwar Ibrahim

State level

• Sultan of Johor: Sultan Iskandar
• Sultan of Kedah: Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah
• Sultan of Kelantan: Sultan Ismail Petra
• Raja of Perlis: Tuanku Syed Putra
• Sultan of Perak: Sultan Azlan Shah
• Sultan of Pahang: Sultan Ahmad Shah
• Sultan of Selangor: Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah (Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong)
• Sultan of Terengganu: Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah
• Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan: Tengku Naquiddin (Regent)
• Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Penang: Tun Dr Hamdan Sheikh Tahir
• Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Malacca: Tun Syed Ahmad Al-Haj bin Syed Mahmud Shahabuddin
• Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Sarawak: Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce Mohammed Noor
• Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Sabah: Tun Sakaran Dandai

Events

• 1 January
  • Petronas Twin Towers (452 metres) become the world's tallest buildings.
  • Visit Terengganu Year 1997 officially began.
  • Compulsory self-service at petrol stations in Klang Valley comes into operations for the first time.
• 3 January – Proton Putra, Malaysia's first coupé car is launched.
• 10 January – Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) is established.
• 3 February – The opening of Aborigines Museum in Ayer Keroh, Malacca.
• 2 March – The Chairman of DRB Hicom Group, Tan Sri Yahaya Ahmad and his wife Puan Sri Rohana Othman were killed in a helicopter crash in Kuala Lipis, Pahang.
• 18 March – The Touch 'n Go Electronic Payment System (EPS) is launched.
• 3 April – Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (UPM) change its name to Universiti Putra Malaysia
• 23 May – M. Magendran (11.55 am) and N. Mohanadas (12.10 pm) were the first Malaysians who reached the peak of Mount Everest.
• May – Dato' Sri Anwar Ibrahim was appointed Acting Prime Minister until August.
• May – Official launching of Cyberjaya by the prime minister Mahathir Mohammad.
• 16 June - 5 July – The FIFA World Youth Championship is held in Malaysia. Argentina wins World Youth Championship after beating Uruguay, 1-2 in the final at Shah Alam Stadium.
• July – Sunway Pyramid, Subang Jaya's new attracttions is officially opened.
• 13 July – Official opening of the Exchange Square, the new headquarters of the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE).
• 21 July – Economic crisis in Malaysia. The Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE) Composite Index fell below 200 points.
• 3 August – A haze occurs in Kuching, Sarawak. A state of emergency is imposed.
• 31 August – The flag of Malaysia is renamed Jalur Gemilang.
• September – Genting Skyway, the longest cable car in South East Asia is opened.
• 6 October – The Malaysian Exchange of Securities Dealing & Automated Quotation (MESDAQ) is launched.
• 28 October – The Seventh Non-Aligned Summit Meeting G15 is held in Kuala Lumpur.

National Day

Main theme

Akhlak Mulia Masyarakat Jaya

Sports

• 1997 Men's Hockey World Cup Qualifier in Kuala Lumpur
• 16 June - 5 July – FIFA World Youth Championship, Malaysia 1997

Births

• 24 October - Farhanna Qismina, actress

Deaths

• Tan Sri Yahaya Ahmad — Chairman of DRB Hicom Group
• Datuk Seri Mohd Zin Abdul Ghani — Melaka chief minister
• Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan — The first Sarawak chief minister

See also

• 1997
• 1996 in Malaysia | 1998 in Malaysia
• History of Malaysia