2009 in Malaysia

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Incumbents

Federal level

Yang di-Pertuan Agong: Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu
Raja Permaisuri Agong: Sultanah Nur Zahirah of Terengganu
Prime Minister:
- Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (until 3 April)
- Dato' Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak (from 3 April)
Deputy Prime Minister:
- Dato' Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak (until 3 April)
- Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin (from 9 April)

State level

Sultan of Johor: Sultan Iskandar
Menteri Besar of Johor: Datuk Seri Abdul Ghani Othman
Sultan of Kedah: Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah (Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong)
Menteri Besar of Kedah: 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 Dr Md Isa Sabu
Sultan of Perak: Sultan Azlan Shah
Menteri Besar of Perak:
- Datuk Seri Ir Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin (until 4 February)
- Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir (from 18 February)
- Datuk Seri Ir Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin (from 11 May)
- Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir (from 12 May)

see 2009 Perak constitutional crisis

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: Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim
Sultan of Terengganu: Tengku Muhammad Ismail (Regent)
Menteri Besar of Terengganu: Datuk Seri Ahmad Said
Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan: Tuanku Muhriz
Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan: Datuk Seri Mohammed Hasan
Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Penang: Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas
Chief Minister of Penang: 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 Sri 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 – Compulsory use of rear seat belts is enforced.
1 January – The Anti-Corruption Agency (ACA) has changed its name to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
1 January – The graphic images on the cigarette packs to show the adverse long-term effects of excessive smoking is introduced.
2 January – Ten persons were killed and five injured in an accident involving three vehicles at Gua Musang Highway near Bukit Sejuk, Gua Musang, Kelantan.
12 January – Members of parliament from the government and the opposition joined forces to condemn the Israeli incursion into Gaza. The Parliament passed the 10 resolutions at Monday's special Parliament sitting on Israel's atrocities in Gaza to the United States Congress and parliaments of Britain and the European Union.
12 January – A rock slide at the Perak Caves Buddhist temple built into a cave killed one person and trapped more than a dozen others for hours near Ipoh, Perak.
6–17 January – 2009 Kuala Terengganu by elections. Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) candidate Abdul Wahid Endut wins this election with a total majority of 2,631 votes beating the Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Datuk Wan Ahmad Wan Farid Wan Salleh.
23 January – Suspected car thief Kugan Ananthan, aged 22, died five days after being arrested by police in Subang Jaya. Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail has classified Kugan's death as murder.

February

3 February – The Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah celebrates his Silver Jubilee of reigning in the state of Perak.
4 February – The Pakatan Rakyat (PR) government in Perak collapsed. Barisan Nasional (BN) has claimed control over Perak to form a new government.
6 February – Pangkor state assemblyman, Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir (Barisan Nasional (BN)-UMNO) sworn in as the new Menteri Besar of Perak in front of Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah at Istana Iskandariah, Kuala Kangsar. Malaysian police fired teargas at Pakatan Rakyat (PR) supporters protesting against the government seizing power in state of Perak, widening a tense political standoff.
9 February – V. Arumugam), the Kedah exco member and Bukit Selambau state assemblyman, resigned from his exco and state assembly seats respectively.
14 February – Collection of toll at the PJS 2 toll plaza heading toward Kuala Lumpur on the New Pantai Expressway (NPE) near Petaling Jaya, Selangor has been abolished.
17 February – Elizabeth Wong, the Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) legislator and Bukit Lanjan Selangor's state assemblyman, resigned after photos of her sleeping nude were spread via MMS.
18 February – Menteri Besar of Perak, Datuk Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir has suspended for 18 months from attending the state legislative assembly.
24 February – The official launching of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
25 February – The Salak Jaya toll plaza (south bound) on Sungai Besi Expressway is abolished and the future expansion of the Besraya expressway to the Kuala Lumpur Middle Ring Road 2 near Pandan is announced.

March

3 March – Three Malaysians among seven people were killed in Hotel blaze in Taipei, Taiwan. A worst fire in 15 years.
3 March – Thousands of people were left trapped and stranded either in buildings, bus stations or light rail transit stations in Kuala Lumpur following flash floods after a heavy downpour since 3pm.
7 March – Riot police fired tear gas into several hundreds of people marching from Masjid Negara to Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur to protest the use of English in the teaching of Mathematics and Science.
16 March – RTM's third channel, Muzik Aktif is launched from Angkasapuri, Kuala lumpur.
16 March – Limbang district is officially part of Malaysia as Brunei has officially dropped its long-standing claim over Sarawak's Limbang district after the two countries resolved various land and maritime territory disputes.
17 March – Melaka Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Wira Mohd Ali Rustam suspended from contesting the post of UMNO deputy president as he was found guilty under Article 10.1 of the UMNO Members Code of Ethics which means that it is deemed that a bribery offence and money politics had been committed by his agents.
28 March – Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin wins the UMNO deputy president election with 1,575 votes beating Tan Sri Muhammad Taib with 916 votes
28 March – The lights of the world's tallest twin towers, Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur and the city of Putrajaya were turned off during Earth Hour campaign.

April

3 April – Najib Tun Razak becomes the sixth Malaysian Prime Minister replacing Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.
4 April – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohammad rejoins UMNO.
5 April – "1Malaysia" (One Malaysia) concept is launched.
7 April – The by-elections for Bukit Gantang, Bukit Selambau and Batang Ai. Barisan Nasional (BN) wins in Batang Ai and Pakatan Rakyat (PR) wins in Bukit Selambau and Bukit Gantang.
9 April – Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin is appointed Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia.
13 April – Six people were killed in double decker express bus crash at km 443 of the North-South Expressway near Rawang, Selangor.
14 April – Kota Iskandar in Nusajaya becomes Johor's state new administrative capital after Johor Bahru.
15 April – Proton Exora, the first Proton's MPV is launched.
16 April – Penang Deputy Chief Minister and state assemblyperson Mohammad Fairus Khairuddin resigns as the state assembly seat of Penanti regarding allegations over his non-performance in public office and corruption allegations
24 April – Lumut, the home base of the Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) is declared as "Naval Town".
27 April – The Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN) celebrates its Diamond Jubilee (75 anniversary) of establishment.

May

7 May – Perak State Assembly in chaos, Pakatan Rakyat (PR) state Speaker V. Sivakumar removed from the assembly. ex-Sungkai state assemblyman Datuk S. Ganesan took his oath as the new Speaker. Police arrested dozens of protesters, including three opposition MPs, in a standoff near the Perak State Secretariat Building in Ipoh.
8 May – Three of the Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF) leaders are released.
8 May – Singapore's most-wanted fugitive or Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) leader, Mas Selamat Kastari is arrested in Skudai, Johor.
11 May – The High Court rules Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin as legitimate Menteri Besar of Perak, but Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir still as Menteri Besar.
18 May – Barisan Nasional (BN) will not contest the 31 May Penanti by-election in Penang.
23 May – The Appeal Court rules Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir as legitimate Menteri Besar of Perak.
23 May – Malaysia plans to build the third crossing bridge connecting Pengerang in the eastern of Johor to Changi in Singapore
26 May – Hunger strike in Perak: All 19 Pakatan Rakyat (PR) assemblymen and supporters arrested earlier Tuesday were released on police bail about five hours later after having had their statements recorded.
28 May – Jaya Supermarket in Petaling Jaya, Selangor collapsed while being torn down for redevelopment. Seven workers were killed mostly Indonesians.
31 May – Penanti by-election, 2009, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) candidate Mansor Othman wins this election with a total majority of 1048 votes beating three independent candidates Aminah Abdullah, Nai-Khan Ari and Kamarul Ramizu Idris.

June

1 June – TV3 celebrates its 25th anniversary.
2 June – The roof of the Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin Stadium in Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu collapsed.
3 June – Najib Tun Razak visits China for the first time since 35 years and meet the premier Wen Jiabao.
6 June – Late wife of the fifth Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Endon Mahmood conferred the Seri Setia Mahkota Malaysia (SSM) which carries the title "Tun" from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin.
16 June – The 41-year-old "General" Nor Azami Ahmad Ghazali, leader of the illegal Federal Special Forces of Malaysia (FSFM) and 42 people were arrested in Taman Gombak Jaya, Selangor.
21 June – World's No. 1 Lee Chong Wei of Malaysia defeated Indonesian ace Taufik Hidayat to win the Indonesia Super Series.
22 June – The SJKC Jalan Davidson Chinese primary school in Kuala Lumpur became the first school to be closed due to the Influenza A (H1N1) virus.
22 June – MEASAT-3A satellite is launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Kazakhstan.

July

The new Sarawak state legislative assembly building situated beside The Astana in Kuching, Sarawak.

1 July – The Kedah DAP decided to quit the Pakatan Rakyat citing "undelivered promises" by the state government as one of the reasons.
8 July – The Cabinet decides that all national primary and secondary schools will teach Science and Mathematics in Bahasa Melayu (Malay Language) and mother tongue for national-type primary schools beginning 2012.
11 July – Najib Tun Razak marks his 100 days as a Prime Minister. He announcing 11 people-friendly measures to all Malaysians – including a toll discount for frequent users and a new trust fund – to address some longstanding public grievances.
14 July – Manek Urai by-election, 2009, PAS candidate Mohd Fauzi Abdullah wins this election with a total majority of 65 votes beating Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates Tuan Aziz Tuan Mat.
14 July – Beginning 1 September, the 20 per cent expressway toll rebate given to motorists who pay toll charges more than 80 times a month, can be saved for up to six months. The rebate can be redeemed at 126 locations which would be announced in due time.
14 July – Malaysia's second micro satellite Razak SAT is launched to orbit.
16 July – The political secretary of Seri Kembangan state assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah, Teoh Beng Hock, 30 has been found dead at the premises of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Selangor state headquarters at its 14th floor office in Plaza Masalam, Shah Alam.
26 July – Road collapse at Lorong Gelugor near Jalan San Peng, Kuala Lumpur forcing the evacuation of residents of 22 units of Public Works Department (JKR) and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) quarters.
27 July – The New Sarawak State Legislative Assembly Building in Kuching, Sarawak was officially opened by Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin.
31 July – The Amanah Sahah 1Malaysia (AS1M) scheme is launched.

August

1 August – Riot police fired water cannons and tear gas, and arrested dozens of demonstrators in the anti-ISA rally in Kuala Lumpur.
9 August – The death toll of the influenza A(H1N1) reached 26 people. The government is considering drastic measures to contain the situation.
9 August – The teaching of Mathematics and Science in English will be extended to 2014. The current cohort of students studying Mathematics and Science in English can continue to do so until they finish their secondary school.
14 August – The death toll of the influenza A(H1N1) reached 56 people.
16 August – A British pilot killed when his plane crashed during takeoff on a test flight in Tekah Airfield, Taiping, Perak.
17 August – The death toll of the influenza A(H1N1) reached 64 people. The government is considering declaring a national health emergency.
19 August – Nine Chinese crew members of Liberian-registered tanker MT Formosa Product Brick, which caught fire after a collision with a bulk carrier in the Straits of Malacca near Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan.
20 August – Malaysia recorded its highest number of influenza A(H1N1) cases in a day with 69 infections.
20 August – A four-wheel drive belonging to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) was damaged when someone threw a Molotov cocktail at the vehicle parked at the old district and land office in Klang, Selangor.
23 August – Lunas state assemblyman Mohd Radzhi Salleh quits Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) to become an independent member of the Kedah state legislative assembly.
25 August – Permatang Pasir by-election, 2009, PAS candidate Salleh Man wins this election with a total majority of 4,551 votes beating Barisan Nasional (BN) candidates Rohaizat Othman.
27 August – MCA deputy president, Chua Soi Lek is sacked from the party.
31 August – The 52nd Merdeka Day celebration is held at the Malaysian Houses of Parliament for the first time.
31 August – An express train from Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, carrying 243 passengers, derailed in Batu Enam near Segamat, Johor, injuring 17 passengers including three Singaporeans.

September

KD Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia's first submarine.

1 September – French "Spider-Man" Alain Robert was arrested after successfully scaling Petronas Towers, in his third attempt on the nation's tallest structure.
3 September – Malaysia's first ever submarine KD Tunku Abdul Rahman arrives in Port Klang, Selangor.
9 September – The Malaysians Unite for Road Safety (MUFROS) 090909 campaign is launched
11 September – Two pilots in a light aircraft were killed when the aircraft crashed as it was coming in to land at the Langkawi International Airport on Langkawi Island, Kedah.
14 September – 19 houses at the Kampung Buah Pala in Penang were demolished.
15 September – The new Malaysia's own Formula One team, "Lotus F1 Racing" is launched.
17 September – A regional militant leader and terrorist, Noordin Mat Top is killed during a police raid in Solo, Central Java, Indonesia.
25 September – The Automated Enforcement System (AES) will be introduced for all expressways and highways in Malaysia.

October

1 October – The National Language Month of Bulan Bahasa Kebangsaan is launched.
2 October – The body of a regional militant leader and terrorist, Noordin Mat Top is brought back to Malaysia and is buried at Kampung Kayu Ara Pasong in Pontian, Johor.
4 October – Najib Tun Razak visits France for the first time and meet the president Nicolas Sarkozy.
8 October – A fire broke out on board of KD Sri Inderapura in Lumut Naval Base, Perak.
11 October – Bagan Pinang by-election, 2009, Barisan Nasional (BN) candidate Tan Sri Mohd Isa Abdul Samad wins this election with a total majority of 5,435 votes beating PAS candidates Zulkefly Mohamad Omar.
19 October – Malaysia Day on 16 September is declared as the annual national public holiday starting 2010 next year.
26 October – Tuanku Muhriz is installed as the 11th Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan.
26 October – About 22 schoolchildren were feared drowned after plunging into a river when a suspension bridge they were crossing collapsed in Kuala Dipang near Kampar, Perak. 19 people safe and three others dead.
27 October – Datuk Dr Jeffrey Kitingan has resigned as a vice-president of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) in Sabah.
29 October – Port Klang state assemblyman Badrul Hisham Abdullah quits Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) with immediate effect to become an independent representative supporting the Barisan Nasional (BN).
30 October – An Eagle light aircraft of the Royal Selangor Flying Club (RSFC) crashed near the Beringin Golf Club in Lembah Beringin near Kuala Kubu Bharu, Selangor, killing the trainee pilot who was flying solo from Ipoh to Subang.

November

1 November – Former Perlis mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin is arrested by the Selangor Religious Affairs Department (JAIS) officials late last night as he was conducting a religious class.
4 November – A massive landslides in Selayang, Selangor forces closure of the Kuala Lumpur-Rawang Highway.
4 November – Kelantan received the "Wang Ehsan" compassionate payment from the federal government from the state's offshore oil production revenue starting next year.
7–23 November – A massive flash flood hits Kelantan, Terengganu and Pahang. 2 dead and 5,000 people were evacuated.
10 November – Chinese president Hu Jintao visits Malaysia for the first time.
16 November – The Kota Siputeh state seat in Kedah is declared vacated by the High Court..
18 November – Former Perlis mufti Dr Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin claimed trial at the Gombak Timur Lower Syariah Court, Selangor to a charge of teaching aspects related to Islam without certification early this month.
21 November – The body of the political secretary of Seri Kembangan state assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah, Teoh Beng Hock is exhumed from the Nirvana Memorial Park in Semenyih, Selangor for a second autopsy at Sungai Buloh Hospital.
23 November – Perodua Alza, the first Perodua's MPV is launched.
24 November – The body of the political secretary of Seri Kembangan state assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah, Teoh Beng Hock is laid to rest for the second time, three days after his remains were exhumed for a second autopsy at Sungai Buloh Hospital.
25 November – The Selangor state government issued a ban prohibiting state civil servants, employees of state subsidiaries, and students at state-owned institutions from attending the National Civics Bureau or "Biro Tata Negara" (BTN) courses.
29 November – A powerful explosion ripped through a mamak restaurant in Stulang, near Johor Bahru, Johor, jolting dozens of nearby residents from their sleep. No one was injured in the incident, which was believed to have been caused by a powerful bomb made of plastic explosives.

December

Picture of the gas explosion at AEON Bandaraya Melaka Shopping Centre in Melaka.

4 December – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Chief Commissioner Datuk Seri Ahmad Said Hamdan resigned.
6 December – Two nursing students at a private college here were killed and four others injured when a car plunged from the third-floor car park of the KB Mall shopping complex and landed on the shopping area in Kota Bharu, Kelantan.
9 December – Najib Tun Razak and Thai prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva visits Narathiwat in Southern Thailand.
10 December – Former Port Klang Authority (PKA) general manager Datin Paduka O.C. Phang claimed trial at the Klang Sessions Court to three counts of CBT amounting to a total of RM254mil over the Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) scandal.
14 December – Deputy Tourism Minister, Datuk Seri Sulaiman Abdul Rahman Abdul Taib resigned.
14 December – A gas explosion at the soon-to-be-opened RM288 million AEON Bandaraya Melaka Shopping Centre in Jalan Lagenda, in Bachang, Melaka, killed a contractor and injured more than 20 others, including six critically.
17 December – Malaysian football team wins gold medal ended a 20-year gold drought after beating Vietnam 1-0 in the 2009 SEA Games football men's final in Vientiane, Laos.
18 December – Malaysia hopes to bid for the 2019 Asian Games in Kuala Lumpur, after two failed attempts.
19 December – Two missing Royal Malaysian Air Force's (RMAF) F-5E fighter jet engines, worth 29 million dollars is stolen from a Sungai Besi Airbase, Kuala Lumpur.
24 December – Two missing Royal Malaysian Air Force's (RMAF) F-5E fighter jet engines, worth 29 million dollars is found in Argentina.
26 December – Ten passengers were killed and two injured after a double-decker Sani Express bus skidded and hit the road divider at Km 272.8 of the North-South Expressway as it was heading north, about 8 km from the Ipoh South toll plaza near Ipoh, Perak.
27 December – Beginning 1 January 2010, the minimum price of cigarettes will be RM6.40 for a 20-stick pack when the Health Ministry enforces the minimum cigarette and prohibition of price promotion through the Control of Tobacco Products Regulation (Amendment) (No.2) 2009.
28 December – The publisher of Herald - The Catholic Weekly has filed a writ of summons and statement of claim in the Kuala Lumpur High Court to seek appropriate declarations of the use of "Allah".
31 December – The High Court declared that the Herald can use "Allah" in its Catholic weekly publication and that the Home Minister order banning its use is illegal, null and void.

National Day

Main theme

1Malaysia; Rakyat Didahulukan, Pencapaian Diutamakan – 1Malaysia; People First, Performance Now

National Day Parade

Malaysian Houses of Parliament

Sports

9–15 February – Le Tour de Langkawi 2009
7–17 June – 2009 Men's Hockey Junior World Cup Malaysia-Singapore
18–20 July – Manchester United F.C. Asia Tour 2009:
- Manchester United F.C. vs Malaysia XI
15–19 August – KL'09 5th ASEAN Para Games, Kuala Lumpur
28 September – 4 October – ATP Proton Malaysian Open 2009

Deaths

Tan Sri S.O.K Ubaidulla Kadir Basha – Former veteran politician and prominent businessman
Azmi Kamaruddin – Former Supreme Court Judge (1988)
Muhammad Dahlan Abdul Baing (Arena Wati) – National Laureate (Sasterawan Negara)
Roslan Shaharum – Bukit Gantang Member of Parliament (MP)
James Yakub – Malaysian football striker
Ibrahim Hussein – artist
Dublin Unting Ingkot – Batang Ai, Sarawak's state assemblyman
Mohamed Yusoff Mohamed – Former Supreme Court Judge (1988–1992)
Oo Gin Sun – former Alor Setar MP (1974–1990) and deputy minister
Laila Taib – wife of Sarawak's chief minister Abdul Taib Mahmud
Ismail Yaacob – Manek Urai, Kelantan's State Assemblyman
Yasmin Ahmad – award -winning film director
Teoh Beng Hock – Political secretary of Seri Kembangan state assemblyman Ean Yong Hian Wah.
Mohd Hamdan Abdul Rahman – Permatang Pasir, Penang's state assemblyman
Ustaz Asri (Rabbani) – Rabbani's nasyid vocalist leader
Tunku Datuk Dr Ismail Jewa – Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) dean
Prof Datuk Dr Ismail Md Salleh – First disabled senator in Dewan Negara
Tun Abdul Hamid Omar – Chief Justice of Malaya, Supreme Court and Lord President
Azman Mohd Noor – Bagan Pinang, Negeri Sembilan's state assemblyman
Tan Sri Jaafar Abdul – Former deputy Inspector General of Police (1976–1989) and chairman of Cosway Corporation Berhad
Datuk Ismail Abbas (Amil Jaya) – Sabah laureate
Dato' Abdul Rahim Abu Bakar – Former Menteri Besar of Pahang
Abdullah Salleh – Independence fighter and former senator

2009 in Malaysia

Incumbents

Federal level

State level

Events

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

National Day

Main theme

National Day Parade

Sports

Deaths

See also