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 (until 31 October)
Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (from 31 October)
Deputy Prime Minister: Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (until 31 October)
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 (Regent)
 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 (Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong)
 Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan: Tuanku Jaafar
 Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Penang: Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas
 Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Malacca: Tun Syed Ahmad Al-Haj bin Syed Mahmud Shahabuddin
 Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Sarawak: Tun Abang Mohammad Salahuddin
 Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Sabah: Tun Sakaran Dandai (until 31 December)

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 (new CIQ complex and new bridge) 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 (NAM) 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 (SARS) virus.
May — The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) 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 (angkasawan) to the International Space Station (ISS).
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 (ICJ) a dispute concerning sovereignty over Pulau Batu Puteh (Pedra Branca), Middle Rocks and South Ledge.
24 July – The Federal Special Forces of Malaysia (FSFM) 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 (RMN) 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 (OIC) 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 (NKVE) 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 (Program Latihan Khidmat Negara (PLKN)) was introduced as the conscription training program.

Births

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.

See also
 2003
 List of Malaysian films of 2003
 2002 in Malaysia | 2004 in Malaysia
 History of Malaysia

References

 
2000s in Malaysia
Years of the 21st century in Malaysia
Malaysia
Malaysia