This article lists important figures and events in Malaysian public affairs during the year 1979, together with births and deaths of notable Malaysians and Malaysia-related figures.
Incumbent political figures Federal level Yang di-Pertuan Agong: Sultan Yahya Petra (until 29 March) Sultan Ahmad Shah (from 29 March) Raja Permaisuri Agong: Raja Perempuan Zainab (until 29 March) Tengku Ampuan Afzan (from 29 March) Prime Minister: Hussein Onn Deputy Prime Minister: Mahathir Mohamad Lord President: Mohamed Suffian Mohamed Hashim
State level Sultan of Johor: Sultan Ismail Sultan of Kedah: Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Sultan of Kelantan: Tengku Ismail Petra (Regent until 29 March) Sultan Ismail Petra (from 29 March) Raja of Perlis: Tuanku Syed Putra Sultan of Perak: Sultan Idris Shah II Sultan of Pahang: Tengku Abdullah (Regent from 29 March) Sultan of Selangor: Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah Sultan of Terengganu: Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah (until 20 September) Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah (from 20 September) Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan: Tuanku Jaafar (Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong) Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Penang: Tun Sardon Jubir Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Malacca: Tun Syed Zahiruddin bin Syed Hassan Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Sarawak: Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Sabah: Tun Mohd Adnan Robert
Events January - Go-slow at Subang Airport. February – Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA) was established. 29 March – Sultan Yahya Petra ibni Almarhum Sultan Ibrahim Petra of Kelantan and the Yang di-Pertuan Agong died. His body was brought back to Kelantan and laid to rest at Kelantan Royal Mausoleum, . 26 April – Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang was elected as the seventh Yang di-Pertuan Agong. April – Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. of Japan opened its factories in Shah Alam, Selangor. 7 May – RTM2 commenced colour television broadcasts. 22 May – The Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad was founded 5 September – Establishment of Sekolah Menengah Sains Sultan Mahmud September – Opening of the Karak Highway and Genting Sempah Tunnel.
Births 11 January – Siti Nurhaliza – Singer 5 April – Nisha Ayub – transgender rights activist 30 May – Que Haidar – Actor 30 May – Hardi Jaafar – footballer 2 June – Siti Zalina Ahmad – Lawn bowler 9 July – Gary Chaw – singer-songwriter 24 September – Shukor Adan – footballer 29 September – Hairuddin Omar – footballer 30 September – Vince Chong – Reality TV Star 29 October – Maya Karin – Singer and actress 11 November – Farah Asyikin Zulkifli – Singer, songwriter of Malaysian Idol S2 and One in a Million (season 1)
Deaths 8 March – Ibrahim Yaacob, founder of the Kesatuan Melayu Muda (b. 1911). 29 March – Yahya Petra of Kelantan, 27th Sultan of Kelantan and 6th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia (b. 1917). 30 March – E. E. C. Thuraisingham, 1st local Member (Minister) for Education in the Communities Liaison Committee (b. 1898). 27 April – Shariff Dol, Malay film actor (b. 1926). 18 May – Tun V. T. Sambanthan, 5th President of the Malaysian Indian Congress and former Minister of Works, Posts and Telecommunications (b. 1919). 20 September – Ismail Nasir Shah of Terengganu, 16th Sultan of Terengganu and 4th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia (b. 1907). 12 October – V. Manickavasagam, 6th President of the Malaysian Indian Congress (b. 1926). 25 October – Gerald Templer, 3rd British High Commissioner for Malaya (b. 1898). 18 November – Dato Wong Shee Fun, founding member of the Malaysian Chinese Association and the Johor State Branch of the Malaysian Chinese Association (b. 1898).
See also
History of Malaysia
References