This article lists important figures and events in Malaysian public affairs during the year 2008, together with the deaths of notable Malaysians. 2008 marked is 51st anniversary of Malaysia's Independence.
Incumbent political figures Federal level Yang di-Pertuan Agong: Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu Raja Permaisuri Agong: Sultanah Nur Zahirah of Terengganu Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong: Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah of Kedah Prime Minister: Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi Deputy Prime Minister: Dato' Sri Mohammad Najib Abdul Razak President of the Dewan Negara: Tan Sri Dato' Seri Dr. Abdul Hamid Pawanteh Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat: Tan Sri Dato' Seri Diraja Ramli Ngah Talib (until 27 April) Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Pandikar Amin Mulia (from 28 April) Chief Justice: Tun Abdul Hamid Mohamad (until 18 October) Tun Dato' Seri Zaki Azmi (from 18 October)
State level Johor: Sultan of Johor: Sultan Iskandar Menteri Besar of Johor: Abdul Ghani Othman Kedah: Sultan of Kedah: Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah Menteri Besar of Kedah: Mahdzir Khalid (until 9 March) Azizan Abdul Razak (from 9 March) Kelantan: Sultan of Kelantan: Sultan Ismail Petra Menteri Besar of Kelantan: Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat Perlis: Raja of Perlis: Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Menteri Besar of Perlis: Shahidan Kassim (until 17 March) Md Isa Sabu (from 17 March) Perak: Sultan of Perak: Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Menteri Besar of Perak: Tajol Rosli Mohd Ghazali (until 17 March) Mohammad Nizar Jamaluddin (from 17 March) Pahang: Sultan of Pahang: Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta'in Billah Menteri Besar of Pahang: Adnan Yaakob Selangor: Sultan of Selangor: Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Menteri Besar of Selangor: Mohamad Khir Toyo (until 13 March) Abdul Khalid Ibrahim (from 13 March) Terengganu: Sultan of Terengganu: Tengku Muhammad Ismail (Regent) Menteri Besar of Terengganu: Idris Jusoh (until 25 March) Ahmad Said (from 25 March) Negeri Sembilan: Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan: Tuanku Ja'afar (until 27 December) Tuanku Muhriz (from 29 December) Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan: Mohamad Hasan Penang: Governor of Penang: Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas Chief Minister of Penang: Koh Tsu Koon (until 11 March) Lim Guan Eng (from 11 March) Malacca: Governor of Malacca: Tun Mohd Khalid Yaakob Chief Minister of Malacca: Mohd Ali Rustam Sarawak: Governor of Sarawak: Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Chief Minister of Sarawak: Abdul Taib Mahmud Sabah: Governor of Sabah: Tun Ahmadshah Abdullah Chief Minister of Sabah: Musa Aman
Events January 1 January Visit Terengganu 2008 officially began. Kuala Terengganu achieved city status. 2 January – Chua Soi Lek resigned as Health Minister, MCA vice-president, Johor MCA chief and Labis MP due to a sex tape scandal. 3 January – Minister of Housing and Local Government, Ong Ka Ting was appointed acting Health Minister. 5–13 January – The cycling race 2008 Jelajah Malaysia was staged. 9 January – Four-year-old Sharlinie Mohd Nashar went missing after playing at the playground with her older sister in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. 10 January – The opening of Malacca Al-Quran Museum in Malacca City, Malacca. 12 January The KLCI passed the 1,500 mark for the first time in history, reaching 1,516.22 points. Tenggaroh state assemblyman S. Krishnasamy was assassinated in Johor Bahru. 18 January – The second generation of Proton Saga was launched. 20–26 January — Malaysia at the 2008 ASEAN Para Games in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. 29 January – Official launching of the Sabah Development Corridor (SDC). 29 January–3 February – Kuala Lumpur World 5's Futsal Tournament 31 January The AEON Bukit Tinggi Shopping Centre with the largest Jusco department store in Southeast Asia was officially opened in Bandar Bukit Tinggi in Klang. The Pavilion Kuala Lumpur shopping complex in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia was officially opened.
February 1 February – Federal Territory Day, The Federal Territory official awards and honours were introduced. 2 February – The Islamic Heritage Park (Taman Tamadun Islam), Kuala Terengganu's newest attraction was officially opened. 9 February – The Malaysian Border Regiment (Regimen Pengurusan Sempadan) was introduced. 9–17 February – 2008 Tour de Langkawi 11 February – Official launch of the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE). 17 February – The 2008 Malaysian General Elections began. Prime Minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi condemned 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
4 March – Election Commission (SPR) cancelled the use of indelible ink for 2008 Malaysian general election. 8 March – The 12th Malaysian general election began. The Barisan Nasional, despite its largest loss of seats in forty years, maintained 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) was abolished in Penang by the DAP-led state government. 18 March – The new 2008 cabinet was 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 of three major political parties, the Democratic Action Party (DAP), Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) and Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) was formed. 9 April Two passengers were killed when a train plunged into the Padas River near Tenom, Sabah. Armed robbers shot six people in a three-minute heist and walked 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 celebrated his official return to the political stage, as his ban from public office expired a decade after he was sacked as deputy prime minister on 2 September 1998.
May
3 May – The driver of a Singapore–bound Ekspres Rakyat train was killed when the locomotive derailed near Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. 3–9 May – 2008 Malaysian Paralympiad in Kuala Lumpur. 6 May – Blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin jailed over article allegedly implicating deputy prime minister Mohammad Najib Abdul Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor in the 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.Sigh of relief from residents, Geetha Krishnan, The Star, 7 May 2008Four arrested in Cheras demo, Andrew Sagayam, The Star, 9 May 2008Confirmed - residents can tear down concrete barrier, Syed Jaymal Zahiid, Malaysiakini, 29 April 2008 10 May – The second generation of the Perodua Kembara, Perodua Nautica was launched. 19 May – Former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad announced his resignation from the UMNO party. 23 May – The International Court of Justice (ICJ) awarded 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 rejoined the UMNO party. 31 May – 9 June – 2008 Sukma Games in Terengganu.
June 1 June – The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) celebrated its Golden Jubilee (50th anniversary). 2 June – The sale of petrol and diesel were strictly prohibited to any vehicle not registered in Malaysia at the international borders in Perlis, Kelantan, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak. The ban was lifted on 4 June. 4 June – The price of petrol rose from RM1.92 to RM 2.70 per litre. Malaysia's petrol price conversion to US$0.84 per litre was higher compared 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) by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin of Terengganu. 18 June – The Sabah Progressive Party (SAPP) president Datuk Yong Teck Lee declared that his party had lost confidence in the prime minister, Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. 20 June – Kedah, Penang, Perak and Selangor celebrated 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 – A lorry smashed into 13 vehicles at Puchong Jaya Interchange of the Damansara–Puchong Expressway. One driver was killed and one Myanmar national.
July
4–8 July – The sixth D8 (Developing 8 Countries) Summit 2008 was held in Kuala Lumpur. 7 July – Two historic towns in Malaysia, George Town in Penang and Malacca City (inscribed as Melaka) in Malacca were 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, Mohammad 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 state Governor of Penang Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas. 15 July – Sultan of Kedah, Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah of Kedah celebrated his Golden Jubilee after successfully reigning in the state of Kedah for 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" by the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan, Tuanku Ja'afar of Negeri Sembilan. 20 July – Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) the largest agricultural exposition park in Malaysia and Asia was opened to the public. 29 July – Chelsea FC Asia Tour 2008*. Chelsea FC vs Malaysia, Malaysia lost 0-2 31 July – PKR president, Wan Azizah Wan Ismail resigned her parliamentary seat for Permatang Pauh to let her husband Anwar Ibrahim contest a 2008 Permatang Pauh 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 pillar 28. This was the third time the 1.7 km MRR2 Kepong flyover was closed because of cracks. 7 August – PKR advisor, Anwar Ibrahim was freed on bail after pleading innocent to a sodomy charge. 8–24 August – Malaysia completed at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China. On 17 August, Malaysian badminton player, Lee Chong Wei, won a silver medal at these Games. This was the first time since the 1996 Summer Olympics that Malaysia win a medal at an Olympic Games. 20 August – The MISC vessel registered as MT Bunga Melati Dua was hijacked by a group of armed pirates in the Gulf of Aden, between Yemen and Somalia. There were 29 Malaysian nationals and 10 Philippines nationals on board when the incident occurred. 22 August – Lakshman is born. 23 August – The petrol and diesel price dropped by 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 cost 22 sen less at RM2.40 a litre from RM2.62 a litre. 26 August – The 2008 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.