2003 in Malaysia
This article lists important figures and events in Malaysian public affairs during the year 2003, together with births and deaths of notable Malaysians.
Incumbent political figures
Federal level
- Yang di-Pertuan Agong: Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin
- Raja Permaisuri Agong: Tuanku Fauziah
- Prime Minister:
- *Mahathir Mohamad
- *Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
- [Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia|Prime Minister of Malaysia|Deputy Prime Minister]: Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
- Chief Justice: Mohamed Dzaiddin Abdullah then Ahmad Fairuz Abdul Halim
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 Faizuddin
- Sultan of Perak: Sultan Azlan Shah
- Sultan of Pahang: Sultan Ahmad Shah
- Sultan of Selangor: Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah
- Sultan of Terengganu: Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin
- Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan: Tuanku Jaafar
- Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Penang: Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas
- Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Malacca: Tun Syed Ahmad Al-Haj bin Syed Mahmud Shahabuddin
- Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak: Tun Abang Mohammad Salahuddin
- Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sabah: Tun Sakaran Dandai
Events
- 1 January -Visit Johor Year 2003 officially began.
- 1 January - The indirect advertising of tobacco brands was banned by the Malaysian federal government.
- 4 January - Mathematics and Science subjects in English were introduced to all primary and secondary schools for the first time.
- 14 February - The Southern Integrated Gateway projects in Johor Bahru were officially launched by the Malaysian prime minister, Mahathir Mohamad.
- 23 February - About 20,000 people rallied in the National Stadium, Bukit Jalil to show support for "Malaysians for Peace".
- 20–25 February - The Non-Aligned Movement General Conference was held in Kuala Lumpur.
- 9 March - Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah was crowned as the 9th Sultan of Selangor.
- 5 April - A 64-year-old man from Jerantut, Pahang died of Severe Acute Respiatory Syndrome virus.
- May — The Royal Malaysian Air Force signed a deal to purchase 18 Russian Sukhoi Su-30MKM jet fighters worth almost $1 billion. The Su-30MKMs would be delivered in batches starting in early 2007. As part of the deal, the Russians would send a Malaysian astronaut to the International Space Station.
- 23 May - Ling Liong Sik resigns as MCA president.
- 25 May - A 19-year-old salesgirl died when a car driven by 21-year-old college student crashed into her and several friends seated at a table set up at a roadside in front of a 24-hour restaurant in Section 14, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
- 14 June - IT analyst, Canny Ong was raped and murdered. Her body was found at the New Pantai Expressway construction site in Jalan Klang Lama near Kampung Dato' Harun, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
- 23 June - The base of a tower once part of the Porto de Santiago fort built by the Portuguese 500 years earlier was discovered near Padang Pahlawan, Malacca.
- 24 July - Malaysia and Singapore jointly submitted to the International Court of Justice a dispute concerning sovereignty over Pulau Batu Puteh, Middle Rocks and South Ledge.
- 24 July - The Federal Special Forces of Malaysia was declared an illegal organisation by the federal government because its activities posed a threat to national security. Nor Azami Ahmad Ghazali the leader of the FSFM and 24 of its members were arrested.
- 3 August - Abdul Malik Mydin became the first Malaysian and Southeast Asian to cross the English Channel by swimming from Dover, England to Calais, France.
- August - Naza Ria, Malaysia's first MPV vehicle was launched.
- 26 August - Sultanah Bahiyah of Kedah, a consort of Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah of Kedah died of cancer. She was buried at the Kedah Royal Mausoleum in Langgar.
- 31 August - The quick-march version of Negaraku national anthem reverted to the original slow-march version.
- 31 August - Malaysia's first monorail transit system, KL Monorail began operations.
- September - The Royal Malaysian Navy signed a deal to purchase two of the French s worth almost $1 billion.
- 18 September - Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad paid a glowing tribute to former MCA president Ling Liong Sik for his successful service as transport minister and Cabinet minister for 27 years.
- 23 September - Media Prima Berhad, Malaysia's largest integrated media group of companies was launched.
- 3 October - Berjaya Times Square, the highest shopping complex in Malaysia was officially opened.
- 15 October - The opening of Malacca Tropical Fruit Farm in Malacca.
- 16–17 October - The Organisation of Islamic Conference General Conference was held in Putrajaya.
- 22 October - Alor Star was granted city status.
- 31 October - Abdullah Ahmad Badawi became the fifth prime minister, replacing Mahathir Mohamad.
- 25 November - The construction of the SMART Tunnel projects began.
- 26 November - A rockfall on the New Klang Valley Expressway near the Bukit Lanjan interchange caused the expressway to close for more than six months.
- 1 December - 14 passengers were killed in an early morning collision involving two buses – a school bus which was converted for commercial use and an express bus – at the 63rd kilometre of the Kuala Lipis-Merapoh trunk road near Merapoh, Pahang. 23 others were injured.
- December - The Malaysian National Service was introduced as the conscription training program.
Births
- 6 January – Haqimi Azim – Footballer
- 11 January – Najmuddin Akmal – Footballer
- 30 March – Syahmi Adib Haikal – Footballer
- 30 November – Ubaidullah Shamsul – Footballer
Deaths
- 5 July - Tun Sulaiman Ninam Shah - UMNO annual meeting permanent chairman.
- 9 August – Ali Bakar - Footballer
- 26 August – Sultanah Bahiyah of Kedah
- 19 October – Dato' Seri Harun Idris - Former Selangor Menteri Besar.