1997 in Malaysia

none July 2017 1997 This article lists important figures and events in Malaysian public affairs during the year 1997, together with births and deaths of notable Malaysians. thumb|right|250px|Exchange Square, the headquarters of Bursa Malaysia thumb|230px|right|Jalur Gemilang, the Malaysian flag thumb|right|250px|Genting Skyway. Incumbent political figures Federal level Yang di-Pertuan Agong: Tuanku Jaafar Raja Permaisuri Agong: Tuanku Najihah Prime Minister: Dato' Sri Dr Mahathir Mohamad Deputy Prime Minister: Dato' Sri Anwar Ibrahim Chief Justice: Eusoff Chin State level Johor Sultan of Johor: Sultan Iskandar Kedah Sultan of Kedah: Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Kelantan Sultan of Kelantan: Sultan Ismail Petra Perlis Raja of Perlis: Tuanku Syed Putra Perak Sultan of Perak: Sultan Azlan Shah Pahang Sultan of Pahang: Sultan Ahmad Shah Selangor Sultan of Selangor: Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah (Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong) Terengganu Sultan of Terengganu: Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah Negeri Sembilan Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan: Tunku Naquiyuddin (Regent) Penang Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Penang: Tun Dr Hamdan Sheikh Tahir Malacca Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Malacca: Tun Syed Ahmad Al-Haj bin Syed Mahmud Shahabuddin Sarawak Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Sarawak: Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce Mohammed Noor Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Sabah: Tun Sakaran Dandai Events 1 January – Petronas Twin Towers (452 metres) became the world's tallest buildings. 1 January – Visit Terengganu Year 1997 officially began. 1 January – Compulsory self-service at petrol stations in Klang Valley came into operation for the first time. 3 January – The Proton Putra, Malaysia's first coupé car was launched. 10 January – Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) was established. 1 February – Genting Skyway, the longest cable car in South East Asia was opened.Up Genting Highlands — in just 11 minutes https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19970223-1.2.29.1?qt=genting,%20skyway&q=genting%20skyway 23 October 2024 The Straits Times Bernama, New Straits Times 23 February 1997 3 February – The opening of the Aborigines Museum in Ayer Keroh, Malacca. 2 March – The Chairman of DRB Hicom Group, Tan Sri Yahaya Ahmad and his wife Puan Sri Rohana Othman were killed in a helicopter crash in Kuala Lipis, Pahang.https://www.irishtimes.com/news/car-czar-dies-in-copter-crash-1.49083 'Car czar' dies in copter crash The Irish Times 5 March 1997 4–15 March – 1997 Men's Hockey World Cup Qualifier in Kuala Lumpur 12 March – Seeking to prevent a serious rift in relations with Malaysia, Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore's senior minister, apologized "unreservedly" for remarks that brought a storm of protest from Malaysians.Richardson Michael Tribune International Herald 1997-03-14 Lee Kuan Yew Apologizes for Remarks That Angered Malaysia en-US The New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/14/news/lee-kuan-yew-apologizes-for-remarks-that-angered-malaysia.html 2022-02-07 0362-4331 18 March – The Touch 'n Go Electronic Payment System (EPS) was launched. 3 April – Universiti Pertanian Malaysia (UPM) changed its name to Universiti Putra Malaysia 11-13 April – 1997 Malaysian motorcycle Grand Prix 17 May – Official launching of Cyberjaya by the prime minister Mahathir Mohamad.The Story of a Global Tech Hub https://www.cyberjayamalaysia.com.my/about/the-story Cyberjaya 7 June 2021 26 May 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220526014710/https://www.cyberjayamalaysia.com.my/about/the-story dead 23 May – M. Magendran (11.55 am) and N. Mohanadas (12.10 pm) were the first Malaysians to reach the peak of Mount Everest. 14 June – Lim Kit Siang lodged a police report with the Anti-Corruption Agency headquarters, Jalan Duta, asking for full investigations as to how Ling Hee Leong, son of MCA President and Transport Minister, Ling Liong Sik, could at the age of 27 embark on corporate acquisitions exceeding RM1.2 billion in a matter of months and whether there had been improper use and influence of his father's political and Ministerial position. 14 June – A Bell 206L-4 helicopter broke up and crashed at the Bandar Sri Damansara light industrial area, Selangor killing three on board the aircraft and two on the ground. 16 June–5 July – The FIFA World Youth Championship was held in Malaysia. Argentina won the World Youth Championship after beating Uruguay 2–1 in the final at Shah Alam Stadium. July – Sunway Pyramid, Subang Jaya's new attraction was officially opened. 13 July – Official opening of the Exchange Square, the new headquarters of the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE). 21 July – Economic crisis in Malaysia. The Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE) Composite Index fell below 200 points. 3 August – 1997 Southeast Asian haze: A state of emergency was imposed in Kuching, Sarawak after the Air Pollution Index reached "extreme".https://www.nytimes.com/1997/09/26/news/but-no-state-of-emergency-yet-fire-haze-a-disaster-indonesia-declares.html But No State of Emergency Yet : Fire Haze a Disaster, Indonesia Declares Tribune Thomas Fuller, International Herald 1997-09-26 The New York Times 2017-08-02 en-US 0362-4331 31 August – The flag of Malaysia is renamed Jalur Gemilang. 27 September – 1997 Southeast Asian haze: Twenty-nine crewmen were missing, some people trapped in an Indian Vikraman cargo ship when it ship collided with a Caribbean Mount 1 supertanker in the Strait of Malacca near Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan.https://edition.cnn.com/WORLD/9709/27/malaysia.ship/ https://web.archive.org/web/20170802124353/http://edition.cnn.com/WORLD/9709/27/malaysia.ship/ dead August 2, 2017 CNN - Ships collide in thick Malaysia haze; 29 missing - Sept. 27, 1997 CNN 2017-08-02 6 October – The Malaysian Exchange of Securities Dealing & Automated Quotation (MESDAQ) was launched.Malaysia launches high-tech high-growth exchange https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19971007-1.2.73.2 23 October 2024 The Straits Times 7 October 1997 11 October – The national IT (information technology) campaign, themed "IT As A Culture", was launched by prime minister Mahathir MohamadNational IT campaign to be launched https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19971004-1.2.48.7 23 October 2024 Bernama 4 October 1997 and aired live at 8:30 pm on all television and radio stations in the country.Minister warns against people out to scuttle IT plans The Straits Times Bernama 9 October 1997 14 October – Former president of the Architect Malaysia Association (PAM), Henry Lee Inn Seong, told the Kuala Lumpur Coronary Court that the planner of the collapsed Highland Towers apartment block had no qualification for a 12-storey building. He said the planner, Wong Tin Sang, only had the qualifications to build a building not more than 300 square meters or 3,000 square feet and not more than two floors.https://www.sinarharian.com.my/nasional/kronologi-tragedi-highland-towers-1.229212 Kronologi tragedi Highland Towers www.sinarharian.com.my Malay 10 July 2017 28 October – The Seventh Non-Aligned Summit Meeting G15 was held in Kuala Lumpur. 14 November – Coroner Mohd Radhi Abas of the Kuala Lumpur Coronary Court ruled that the Highland Towers tragedy was not due to any crime and natural disaster, but was a series of crashes and multiple injuries that hit them after the apartment collapsed. It "is not a natural disaster". 19 December – Ten Malaysians died when SilkAir Flight 185 from Jakarta, Indonesia to Singapore crashed into the Musi River near Palembang, Sumatra, Indonesia killing all 97 passengers and seven crew on board.http://www.singaporeair.com/silkair/news.htm https://web.archive.org/web/19980224054737/http://www.singaporeair.com/silkair/news.htm dead 24 February 1998 FUNERAL SERVICE IN PALEMBANG 15 January 1998 SilkAir Public Affairs Department 7 July 2017 Births 2 January – Badrul Hisyam Abdul Manap – Runner athlete 8 January – Danial Asyraf Abdullah – Footballer 26 January – Nik Azli Nik Alias – Footballer 5 March – Safawi Rasid – Footballer 27 March – Danial Amier Norhisham – Footballer 29 March – Welson Sim – Swimmer 31 March – Abdul Latif Romly – Long jumper 26 May – Julian Yee, Figure skater 11 June – Jafri Firdaus Chew – Footballer 1 October – Syamer Kutty Abba – Footballer 24 October – Farhanna Qismina – Actress Deaths 21 February – Datuk Mohamed Nasir, 6th Menteri Besar of Kelantan (b. 1916). 2 March – Tan Sri Yahaya Ahmad, Chairman of DRB Hicom Group (b. 1947). 31 March – Tan Sri Datuk Amar Stephen Kalong Ningkan, 1st Chief Minister of Sarawak (b. 1920).2 April 1997 VIP DIES https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/page/straitstimes19970402-1.1.20 2 March 2026 NewspaperSG 10 April – Ong Tin Kim, GERAKAN Member of Parliament for Telok Intan (b. 1938).11 April 1997 吡叻安顺区议员王添庆病逝新加坡 https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/lhzb19970411-1.2.35.10?qt=%22%E7%8E%8B%20%E6%B7%BB%20%E5%BA%86%22&q=%22%E7%8E%8B%E6%B7%BB%E5%BA%86%22 2 March 2026 NewspaperSG 14 May – Datuk Seri Mohd Zin Abdul Ghani, 7th Chief Minister of Malacca (b. 1941).17 May 1997 Malacca Chief Minister dies three days after stroke https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/page/stoverseas19970517-1.1.10 2 March 2026 NewspaperSG See also 1997 1996 in Malaysia | 1998 in Malaysia History of Malaysia References 1997 in Category:Years of the 20th century in Malaysia Malaysia Malaysia Category:1990s in Malaysia