2008 in Malaysia

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2008
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Incumbents

Federal level

State level

Sultan of Johor: Sultan Iskandar
Menteri Besar of Johor: Datuk Seri Abdul Ghani Othman
Sultan of Kedah: Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah
Menteri Besar of Kedah:
- Datuk Seri Madhzir Khalid to 8 March
- Datuk Seri Azizan Abdul Razak
Sultan of Kelantan: Sultan Ismail Petra
Menteri Besar of Kelantan: Nik Aziz Nik Mat
Raja of Perlis: Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin
Menteri Besar of Perlis:
- Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim to 18 March
- Datuk Seri Dr Md Isa Sabu
Sultan of Perak: Sultan Azlan Shah
Menteri Besar of Perak:
- Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali to 8 March
- Datuk Seri Mohd Nizar Jamaluddin
Sultan of Pahang: Sultan Ahmad Shah
Menteri Besar of Pahang:Datuk Seri Adnan Yaakob
Sultan of Selangor: Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah
Menteri Besar of Selangor:
- Datuk Seri Khir Toyo to 8 March
- Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim
Sultan of Terengganu: Tengku Muhammad Ismail
Menteri Besar of Terengganu:
- Datuk Seri Idris Jusoh to 20 March
- Datuk Seri Ahmad Said
Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan:
- Tuanku Jaafar to 27 December
- Tuanku Muhriz
Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan: Datuk Seri Mohammad Hasan
Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Penang: Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas
Chief Minister of Penang:
- Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon to 8 March
- Lim Guan Eng
Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Malacca: Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob
Chief Minister of Malacca: Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam
Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Sarawak: Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin
Chief Minister of Sarawak: Pehin Seri Haji Abdul Taib bin Mahmud
Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Sabah: Tun Ahmad Shah Abdullah
Chief Minister of Sabah: Datuk Seri Musa Aman

Events

January

1 January – Visit Terengganu 2008 officially begins
1 January – Kuala Terengganu achieved its city status.
2 January – Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek resigned as Health Minister, MCA vice-president, Johor MCA chief and Labis MP due to the sex tape scandal.
3 January – Minister of Housing and Local Government, Datuk Seri Ong Ka Ting was appointed acting Health Minister
10 January – The opening of Malacca Al-Quran Museum in Malacca City, Malacca.
12 January - The KLCI passes the 1,500 mark hurdle to 1,516.22 points. It was the first time in history that this has occurred.
12 January - Tenggaroh state assemblyman S. Krishnasamy is assassinated in Johor Bahru.
18 January – The second generation of Proton Saga is launched.
29 January – Official launching of the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC).
31 January – The AEON Bukit Tinggi Shopping Centre with the largest Jusco department store in Southeast Asia is officially opened in Bandar Bukit Tinggi in Klang.
31 January – The Pavilion Kuala Lumpur shopping complex is officially opened.

February

1 February – Federal Territory Day, The Federal Territory official awards and honours are introduced for the first time.
2 February – The Islamic Heritage Park (Taman Tamadun Islam), Kuala Terengganu's newest attraction is officially opened.
9 February – The Malaysian Border Regiment (Regimen Pengurusan Sempadan) is introduced.
11 February – Official launching of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE)
17 February – The 2008 Malaysian General Elections begin. Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi condemns unlawful organisation.
25 February – Barisan Nasional (BN) launched its 2008 manifesto.
28 February – The opening of the Bernama TV news station on the Astro satellite television service, via Channel 502.

March

The 2008 Malaysian general elections results.

4 March – Election Commission (SPR) has cancelled the use of indelible ink for 2008 General Elections
8 March – The 12th Malaysian general election begins. The Barisan Nasional, despite its largest loss of seats in forty years, maintains a majority in the Parliament of Malaysia. Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor fall to the Pakatan Rakyat.
10 March – The KLCI fell by more than 10 percent or 130 points to 1166.32 points.
11 March – The Malaysian New Economic Policy (NEP) has been abolished in Penang by DAP government.
18 March – The new 2008 cabinet is announced by prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
25 March – The opening of Malacca Folks Art Gallery in Malacca.

April

1 April – "Pakatan Rakyat" (PR) consisting three major political parties, the Democratic Action Party (DAP), Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) is formed.
9 April – Two passengers are killed when a train plunged into the Padas River near Tenom, Sabah.
9 April – Armed robbers shot six people in a three-minute heist and walk away with RM 3.5 million in cash at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
11 April – The Iskandar Development Region was officially renamed as Iskandar Malaysia.
14 April – PKR advisor, Anwar Ibrahim celebrates his official return to the political stage, as his ban from public office expires a decade after he was sacked as deputy prime minister on 2 September 1998.

May

The approximate location of Middle Rocks in the South China Sea in relation to the countries and islands (Pedra Branca (owned by Singapore) and South Ledge) surrounding it

4 April – The driver of a Singapore-bound Ekspres Rakyat train was killed in the locomotive derailed near Seremban, Negeri Sembilan.
6 May – Blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin jailed over article allegedly implicating deputy PM Najib Tun Razak and his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor in killing of a young Mongolian woman, Altantuya Shaariibuu.
7–30 May – The controversial issues about the unopened barricade between Cheras-Kajang Expressway and Bandar Mahkota Cheras.
10 May – The second generation of the Perodua Kembara, Perodua Nautica is launched.
19 May – Former Malaysian Prime Minister, Mahathir Mohammad announced his resignation from UMNO party.
23 May – The International Court of Justice (ICJ) awards Middle Rocks to Malaysia and Pedra Branca (Pulau Batu Puteh) to Singapore, ending a 29-year territorial dispute between the two countries.
28 May – Former PKR youth chief, Ezam Mohd Noor rejoins UMNO party.

June

1 June – The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) celebrates its Golden Jubilee (50 anniversary) of establishment.
2 June – The sale of petrol and diesel are strictly prohibited to any vehicle not registered in Malaysia at the international borders in Perlis, Kelantan, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak. (lifted on 4 June)
4 June – The price of petrol rises from RM1.92 to RM 2.70 per litre. Malaysia's petrol price convert to US$0.84 per litre is higher compare to China US$0.74, Egypt US$0.32, Indonesia US$0.65, Kuwait US$0.21, Qatar US$0.22, Saudi Arabia US$0.12, Turkmenistan US$0.08, and UAE US$0.37
6 June – Malaysia's no.1 squash player, Nicol David was conferred Darjah Bakti (DB) from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin.
18 June – The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Datuk Yong Teck Lee declares that his party has lost confidence in the prime minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
20 June – Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor celebrate the 100th day of the new Pakatan Rakyat government.
26 June – Malaysian Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced a mid term review of the Ninth Malaysia Plan.
30 June – Lorry smashes into 13 vehicles at Puchong Jaya Interchange of the Damansara-Puchong Expressway. One drivers killed including one Myanmar national.

July

George Town, Penang.

Malacca Town, Melaka.

4–8 July – The sixth D8 (Developing 8 Countries) Summit 2008 is held in Kuala Lumpur.
7 July – Two historic towns in Malaysia, George Town in Penang and Malacca Town in Melaka state has been added to UNESCO's coveted World Heritage List.
10 July – Malaysian Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced that he would step down as UMNO president, Barisan Nasional chairman and Prime Minister in June 2010. He announced that he would transfer power to his Deputy, Najib Abdul Razak, a move aimed at reducing the level of political uncertainty in the country.
12 July – The world's number one squash player, Nicol David was conferred the Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri (DSPN) which carries the title "Datuk" by the Penang state governor (Yang di-Pertua Negeri) Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas.
15 July – Sultan of Kedah, Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah celebrates his Golden Jubilee after successfully reign the state of Kedah for every 50 years.
16 July – PKR advisor, Anwar Ibrahim was arrested by the police over allegations he sodomised a male aide.
19 July – The first Malaysian angkasawan (cosmonaut), Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor was conferred the Darjah Setia Negeri Sembilan (DSNS) which carries the title "Datuk" from the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Jaafar.
20 July – Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) the largest agro exposition park in Malaysia and Asia is open to public.
31 July – PKR president, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail has resigned her parliamentary seat for Permatang Pauh to let her husband Anwar Ibrahim contest a by-election.

August

1 August – A lorry carrying boulders crashed into six vehicles at the East-West Link Expressway, in Taman Connaught, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, killing two and seriously injuring six.
3 August – The Kepong flyover on the Kuala Lumpur Middle Ring Road 2 was closed to all traffic after cracks appeared on a pillar 28. This is the third time the 1.7 km MRR2 Kepong flyover has been closed because of cracks.
7 August – PKR advisor, Anwar Ibrahim has been freed on bail after pleading innocent to a sodomy charge.
8-24 August – Malaysia competed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. On August 17, Malaysian badminton player, Lee Chong Wei, won a silver medal at these Games. This is the first time since the 1996 Summer Olympics, that Malaysia managed to obtain any medals for the Olympic Games.
19 August – One of the MISC vessel registered as "MT Bunga Melati Dua" has been hijacked by a group of armed pirates at the Gulf of Aden, between Yemen and Somalia. There were 29 Malaysian nationals and 10 Philippine nationals on board the ship when the incident occurred.
23 August – The petrol and diesel price dropped by between eight sen and 22 sen respectively. The price of RON97 petrol reduced by 15 sen to RM2.55 a litre from RM2.70, while RON92 would cost 22 sen less at RM2.40 a litre from RM2.62 a litre.
26 August – The Permatang Pauh by-election took place. PKR candidate, Anwar Ibrahim won in this election with a total majority of 15,671 votes beating BN candidate Datuk Arif Shah Omar Shah.
27 August – Malaysian national badminton coach Misbun Sidek was conferred the Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka (DMSM) award, which carries the title Datuk from the Malacca state governor (Yang di-Pertua Negeri) Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob.
28 August – Malaysian badminton player, Lee Chong Wei was conferred the Darjah Setia Pangkuan Negeri (DSPN) award, which carries the title Datuk from the Penang state governor (Yang di-Pertua Negeri) Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas.
29 August – At 9.50 pm another MISC tanker ship registered as "MT Bunga Melati Lima" also has been hijacked in international waters off the coast of Yemen.
29 August – Budget 2009. Themed as 'Caring Budget', it has three specific strategies to ensure Malaysians' well being of Malaysians, developing quality human capital and strengthening the nation's resilience
31 August – The closing ceremony of the Visit Malaysia 2007.

September

5 September – Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) deploys third naval vessel "KD Lekiu", "KD Pahang" and "KD Sri Inderapura" to Gulf of Aden following the hijacking of two Malaysian tankers recently.
10 September – Bukit Bendera UMNO division chief Datuk Ahmad Ismail has been suspended from the party for three years with immediate effect for making a disparaging remark at a political ceramah in Permatang Pauh last month.
13 September – Blogger Raja Petra Raja Kamaruddin, Seputeh member of parliament Teresa Kok and a Sin Chew Daily News reporter Tan Hoon Cheng were arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA).
17 September – Malaysian prime minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi serves as Defence Minister while his deputy Najib Tun Razak serves as Finance Minister.
17 September – Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) has officially pulled out of Barisan Nasional to become an independent party.
24 September – The price of RON97 petrol reduced by 10 sen to RM2.45 a litre from RM2.55.
24 September – 300 passengers escaped injury in an accident involving two RapidKL's LRT trains at Sri Petaling Line near Bukit Jalil station.
30 September – A boat carrying Indonesians back for Hari Raya sank at Straits of Malacca 1.2 nautical miles (2.2 km) off Port Klang today. Twelve passengers have been reported dead.
30 September – All 65 Malaysian hostages of the "MT Bunga Melati Dua" and "MT Bunga Melati Lima" are released.

October

Eurocopter EC 725 for RMAF to replace the Sikorsky S-61.

1 October – A group of the Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) supporters Wednesday caused a stir at the Hari Raya Aidilfitri open house hosted by Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi and Muslim Cabinet ministers at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC) when they did not observe rules and cut into the queue of others.
8 October – Malaysian Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi announced that he would step down as UMNO president, Barisan Nasional chairman and Prime Minister in March 2009. He announced that he would transfer power to his Deputy, Najib Abdul Razak.
11 October – Bollywood no.1 superstars, Shah Rukh Khan was conferred the Darjah Mulia Seri Melaka (DMSM) award, which carries the title Datuk from the Malacca state governor (Yang di-Pertua Negeri) Tun Mohd Khalil Yaakob.
14 October – The price of RON97 petrol reduced by 20 sen to RM2.30 a litre from RM2.45.
15 October – The Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) has been declared an illegal organisation by the federal government.
28 October – The government has put on hold the purchase of Eurocopter's EC 725 Cougar helicopters replacing the Sikorsky's S-61 Nuri at a cost of RM1.679 billion until the global economic situation stabilises.
31 October – Political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda, 48, who was charged with abetting in Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu's murder, was freed by the High Court.
31 October – The price of RON97 petrol reduced by 15 sen to RM2.15 a litre from RM2.30.

November

3 November – Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister, Najib Tun Razak win uncontested the UMNO presidency elections.
3 November – Tomboy behavior is banned by Islamic clerics (fatwa) in Malaysia.
3 November – Newly elected Gerakan vice-president Datuk Dr S. Vijayaratnam died after he fell from the rooftop of his four-storey shoplot.
7-9 November – The FEI World Endurance Championship 2008 is held in Terengganu.
8 November – The Eye on Malaysia ferris wheel opens in Malacca.
8 November – Construction of the Penang Second Bridge by China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) has started.
13 November – The price of Roti Canai is reduced by 10 sen.
17 November – The price of RON97 petrol reduced by 15 sen to RM2.00 a litre from RM2.15.
18 November – Effective 1 January 2009, Class 1 highway users traveling on the North-South Expressway (NSE) and North-South Expressway Central Link (ELITE) between 12:00 midnight and 7:00 am will be able to enjoy 10 percent toll discount.
22 November – The physical and mental disciplines of yoga are banned by Islamic clerics (known as Fatwā).
29 November – Hema Kassippillai, one of the Malaysian woman who had been reported missing since the terror attacks in Mumbai, India on Wednesday 26 November, has been found dead.
30 November – Two sisters were buried alive after a landslide crashed on their bungalow at Lot 110, Jalan Belinda 1, Ulu Yam Perdana, Ulu Yam, Selangor.

December

Sultan Iskandar Complex Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (Sultan Iskandar Building)

1 December – The new Custom, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex building (Southern Integrated Gateway) is officially known as Sultan Iskandar Building.
5 December – More than 300 people were forced to evacuate two buildings when a landslide caused part of the retaining wall of a car park to collapse near Amanah Raya Berhad building in Jalan Semantan (Damansara Link on Sprint Expressway), Kuala Lumpur
6 December – Five people were killed and more than eight others are feared buried in a landslide in Bukit Antarabangsa, Ulu Klang, near Kuala Lumpur. The landslide, which is believed to have buried 14 bungalows in Taman Bukit Mewah and Taman Bukit Utama, occurred at about 4am.
7 December – 10 passengers were killed in a bus crash at km 146.8 of the North-South Expressway between Tangkak and Pagoh, Johor.
15 December – The price of RON97 petrol reduced by 10 sen to RM1.80 a litre from RM1.90.
15 December – 57 people were arrested for participating in Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT) campaign in Sungai Choh, Rawang, Selangor.
16 December – The Sultan Iskandar Complex is opened for light vehicles.
20 December – Malaysian pop singer Mawi marries Ekin.
27 December – Tuanku Jaafar ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman, the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan and also tenth Yang di-Pertuan Agong (1994-1999) dies at the age of 86. On 29 December, his body was laid to rest at the Seri Menanti Royal Mausoleum in Seri Menanti. Shortly before funeral, Tunku Besar of Seri Menanti, Tunku Muhriz was elected by the four Undangs as the new Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan with the title Tuanku Muhriz ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir.

National Day

Main theme

Perpaduan Teras Kejayaan

National Day Parade

Dataran Merdeka, Kuala Lumpur

Sports

- 5–13 January – 2008 Jelajah Malaysia
- 29 January-3 February – Kuala Lumpur World 5's Futsal Tournament
- 9–17 February – Le Tour de Langkawi 2008
- 29 July – Chelsea FC Asia Tour 2008
  - Chelsea FC vs Malaysia, Malaysia lost 0-2
- 18 November – Showdown of Champions Kuala Lumpur 2008
- 14–16 November – The King Of Tennis in Penang
- 3–7 December – Monsoon Cup 2008
- 11–21 December – 14th ASEAN University Games

Deaths

Christopher Fernando – Prominent lawyer
Tan Sri Megat Junid Megat Ayub – Former cabinet minister and Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs
Dato' Ishak Baharom – Selangor state Mufti (1985–1997)
Rosli Khamis (Loloq) – Songwriter
Richard Ho Ung Hun – Former minister and MCA deputy president
Datuk Zakaria Md Deros – Controversial political figure and former Port Klang state assemblyman
Dato' Haji Wan Othman, – Sarawak songwriters. writer of the Sarawak state anthem "Ibu Pertiwiku" (My Motherland)
Yusni Jaafar – Malaysian comedy actress
Ballang Lasung – Malaysian SEA Games javelin gold medalist
Rustam Abdullah Sani – Political writers, analysis and former Parti Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) deputy president
M. G. Pandithan – President of the Indian Progressive Front (IPF)
Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin SM Amin – Naza Group Chairman
Nasir P.Ramlee — Actor and son of late P.Ramlee
Razak Leman – Former Malaysian hockey player
Tan Sri Anuar Zainal Abidin – Former Chief Judge of Malaya
Tan Sri Eric Chia – Former Perwaja Steel managing director
Tun Syed Ahmad Al-Haj bin Syed Mahmud Shahabuddin – Melaka state governor (Yang di-Pertua Negeri) (1984–2004)
S. Othman Kelantan – Malaysian writers
Michael Chua – Malaysian bowling player
Tunku Tan Sri Abdullah – Chairman and founder of the Melewar Corporation
Tan Sri A Samad Ismail – Journalist, National Journalism Laureate, writer and editor.
Harbans Singh – Malaysian weightlifter
Shamsiah Fakeh – Nationalist, feminist and the veteran leader of the Communist Party of Malaya (CPM)
Ahmad Mahmud – Malay actors
Abdul Samad Mian (Samad Lefthanded) – Former guitarist of Lefthanded's rock band
Datuk Razali Ismail – Deputy Minister of Education and Kuala Terengganu member of parliament (MP)
Tengku Budriah binti Almarhum Tengku Ismail – Raja Perempuan Perlis and third Raja Permaisuri Agong
Datuk Ho Kok Chye – Former Malaysian hockey player and chef de mission of the Malaysian team at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games
Tuanku Jaafar ibni Almarhum Tuanku Abdul Rahman – Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan and 10th Yang di-Pertuan Agong

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