1981 in Malaysia

none December 2025 1981 This article lists important figures and events in Malaysian public affairs during the year 1981, together with births and deaths of notable Malaysians. thumb|right|200px|Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad became Malaysia's fourth Prime Minister on 17 July Incumbent political figures Federal level Yang di-Pertuan Agong: Sultan Ahmad Shah Raja Permaisuri Agong: Tengku Ampuan Afzan Prime Minister: Hussein Onn (until 16 July) Mahathir Mohamad (from 17 July) Deputy Prime Minister: Dato' Musa Hitam Lord President: Mohamed Suffian Mohamed Hashim State level Johor Sultan of Johor: Sultan Ismail (until 10 May) Sultan Iskandar (from 11 May) 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 Idris Shah II Pahang Sultan of Pahang: Tengku Abdullah (Regent) Selangor Sultan of Selangor: Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Terengganu Sultan of Terengganu: Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah Negeri Sembilan Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan: Tuanku Jaafar (Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong) Penang Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Penang: Tun Sardon Jubir (until May) Tun Dr Awang Hassan (from May) Malacca Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Malacca: Tun Syed Zahiruddin bin Syed Hassan Sarawak 1973 Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Sarawak: Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin (until February) Tun Abdul Rahman Ya'kub (from February) Sabah 1963 Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Sabah: Tun Mohd Adnan Robert Events 20 April – The Amanah Saham Nasional scheme was launched. 10 May – Sultan Ismail Al-Khalidi of Johor died at the age of 86. He was buried at the Mahmoodiah Royal Mausoleum in Johor Bahru. His son, Tunku Mahmood Iskandar was proclaimed as the 24th Sultan of Johor and 4th in the modern Sultan of Johor. 3 June – Soldier Kanang anak Langkau was awarded the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa (SP) from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang for his bravery and sacrifice for fighting against Communist terrorists during the Insurgency. June – The new Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad building at Jalan Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur was officially opened. 11 June – Wong Swee Chin, known as Botak Chin was executed by hanging at Pudu Prison, Kuala Lumpur. 16 July – Hussein Onn resigned as prime minister due to ill health. Mahathir Mohamad became the fourth Malaysian prime minister. 18 July – Tun Musa Hitam was appointed Deputy Prime Minister. 23 July – Work Minister S. Samy Vellu announced that the Penang Bridge, Penang would be constructed using the cable-stayed concrete girder method of the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge instead of the steel-tied arch in the style of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. 9 August – Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang visited Malaysia and met with Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. 7 September – Permodalan Nasional Berhad leads a "Dawn Raid" on the London Stock Exchange with 51 per cent of Guthrie shares acquired in just 10 minutes. 17 September – The new Rajang Area Security Command (RASCOM) headquarters was officially opened in Sibu, Sarawak. 11 October – A Malay rubber tapper named Jaafar Patola killed six people and wounded 25 others in Parit Setan, a village near Benut, Johor before being shot dead by police. Births 24 January – Lynn Leong – Squash player 25 August – Mawi – Singer 2 September – Indra Putra Mahayuddin – Footballerhttps://www.national-football-teams.com/player/4151/Indra_Putra_Mahayuddin.html Indra Putra Mahayuddin National-Football-Teams.com 20 December 2025 11 November – Wong Pei Tty – Badminton player (doubles) 29 November – Nicholas Teo – Malaysian Chinese singer 12 December – Akmal Rizal Ahmad Rakhli – Footballer Deaths 7 April – H. M. Busra – Malay film actor 10 May – Sultan Ismail of Johor 11 June – Botak Chin – Malaysian criminal and gangster 8 July – Temenggong Jugah Anak Barieng – first Sarawak minister in federal cabinet See also 1981 1980 in Malaysia | 1982 in Malaysia History of Malaysia References 1981 in Category:1980s in Malaysia Category:Years of the 20th century in Malaysia Malaysia Malaysia