2026 in Malaysia
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| See also: | Other events of 2026 History of Malaysia • Timeline • Years | ||||
2026 in Malaysia is 69th anniversary of Malaysia's Independence and 63rd anniversary of its formation of Malaysia.
Federal level
- Yang di-Pertuan Agong: Sultan Ibrahim of Johor
- Raja Permaisuri Agong: Raja Zarith Sofiah
- Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong: Nazrin Shah
- Prime Minister: Anwar Ibrahim
- Deputy Prime Ministers: Ahmad Zahid Hamidi & Fadillah Yusof
- President of the Dewan Negara: Awang Bemee Awang Ali Basah
- Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat: Johari Abdul
- Chief Justice:
- Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh
- Hashim Hamzah
- Azizah Nawawi
State level
Johor:
Kedah:
Kelantan:
Perlis:
Perak:
- Sultan of Perak: Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah (Deputy Yang-di-Pertuan Agong)
- Menteri Besar of Perak: Saarani Mohamad
Pahang:
Selangor:
Terengganu:
Negeri Sembilan:
- Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan: Tuanku Muhriz
- Menteri Besar of Negeri Sembilan:
- Aminuddin Harun (until 1 August)
- Ismail Lasim (from 2 August)
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Penang:
Malacca:
Sarawak:
Sabah:
Events
January
- 1 January — The Online Safety Act 2025 passes into law, extending the reach of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) over platforms with over 8 million users in Malaysia.[1]
- 11 January — The government blocks access to Grok AI over its usage in generating sexualised images of women and children.[2]
- 12 January — An air conditioning unit under maintenance explodes inside a cafeteria at HELP University, killing one person and injuring nine others.[3][4]
- 14 January — A late-night fire engulfs four factories at the Olak Lempit Industrial Area in Banting, Kuala Langat, killing three people.[5]
- 22 January — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission charges two former generals including former Chief of Army Muhammad Hafizuddeain Jantan and former Chief of Defence Force Mohd Nizam Jaffar with money laundering, abuse of power and criminal breach of trust following an investigation into alleged irregularities in defence procurement deals.[6]
- 24 January — 2026 Kinabatangan & Lamag by-election.[7]
- 28 January — The executive committee of the Football Association of Malaysia resigns amid accusations by FIFA that the former had forged citizenship documents to enable seven foreign-born athletes to play for the Malaysia national football team.[8]
- 29 January — The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency seizes 512 million ringgit ($129.9 million) in crude oil from two tankers conducting an illegal ship-to-ship transfer off the coast of Penang.[9]
February
- 4 February — The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission issues a ban on the importation of electronic waste.[10]
- 6–22 February – Malaysia at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy.
- 16 February — The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) formally withdraws a defamation case it filed in a Thai court against Australian journalist and Thai resident Murray Hunter over articles published on his Substack newsletter after reaching a settlement.[11]
- 23 February — A magnitude 7.1 earthquake hits off the coast of Sabah.[12]
- 25 February — The MCMC blocks the social media apps Grindr and Blued as part of a government crackdown on LGBTQ activities.[13]
March
- 27 March — Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim confirms that Iran has allowed Malaysian oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz during the ongoing 2026 Iran war.[14]
April
- 1 April — The Malaysian government withdraws its appeal against the Kuala Lumpur High Court's decision to grant Pastor Raymond Koh's family access to a classified report.[15]
- 16 April — Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese sign a mutual energy agreement with Malaysian oil and gas company Petronas agreeing to supply fuel to Australia in return for Australia prioritising its liquefied natural gas exports to Malaysia.[16]
- 17 April – The Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency intercepts a boat carrying 25 migrants from Myanmar in Penang.[17]
- 19 April –
- A farmer opens fire in front of a restaurant in Kota Tinggi, Johor, killing three people.[18][19]
- A fire at a coastal kampung in Sandakan District, Sabah, destroys around 1,000 houses and displaces 9,000 people.[20]
May
- 11 May – A boat carrying migrants from Indonesia capsizes off Pangkor Island in Perak, leaving 14 passengers missing and 23 rescued.[21]
- 15 May – Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announces that the Malaysian Cabinet will create a new pathway for graduates from Chinese independent high schools to enrol in Malaysian public universities. Students will still be required to pass the Malay language and history subjects at the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) level.[22]
- 24 May – Police arrest 51 men (including 28 foreigners) in connection with a drug-fuelled "gay party" held at a Kuala Lumpur hotel. They also seize RM 103,070 (US$ 26,021) worth of illicit drugs including MDMA, ectasy and ketamine.[23]
June
- 1 June:
- The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission gives social media users under the age of 16 six months to download or transfer their social media data before the Online Safety Act 2025's age verification comes into effect in December 2026.[24]
- The Johor State Legislative Assembly is dissolved in anticipation of the 2026 Johor state election.[25]
- A car collides with five other vehicles in Simpang Renggam near Kluang, killing five people.[26]
- 5 June – The Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly is dissolved in anticipation of the 2026 Negeri Sembilan state election.[27]
- 7 June – A SUV collides with a lorry in Sungai Petani, killing six people including an infant.[28]
- 12 June – More than 1,000 Orang Asli from 19 tribes and communities join a rally in Putrajaya demanding for the recognition of their ancestral land and an end of evictions of the Orang Asli for land development.[29]
July
- 11 July – Barisan Nasional wins a landslide victory during the 2026 Johor state election.[30]
- 23 July – 8 August: Malaysia at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.
- 24 July:
- The United States imposes a 10% tariff on Malaysia, citing the presence of alleged forced labour in the supply chain.[31]
- The United States Department of State summons Malaysia's Ambassador to the United States, Muhammad Shahrul Ikram Yaakob, over Malaysia's policy of banning Israelis from entering the country.[32]
- 27 July – More than 100 Rohingya refugees are detained by authorities near the UNHCR office in Kuala Lumpur after attempted to seek assistance and being evicted by locals in Penang.[33] The refugees are later released by authorities and sent to various locations in the country with the assistance of the UNHCR and NGOs.[34]
- 29 July – After negotiations between the two countries, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announces that Myanmar agreed to accept back around 5,000 Rohingya refugees residing in Malaysia.[35]
August
- 1 August – An electoral pact consisting Barisan Nasional and Perikatan Nasional win a majority of seats in the Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly during the 2026 Negeri Sembilan state election.[36]
- 7 August – A container believed to be undergoing transit to Israel is seized by the Malaysia Border Control and Protection Agency (MCBA) at the Port of Tanjung Pelepas, Johor.[37]
- 10–14 August – 2026 East Malaysia haze
- Several outdoor activities and events in Kuching, Samarahan, and the Serian Division are postponed or delayed due to the ongoing haze season in Sarawak.[38]
- The Sarawak government closes 108 schools in Serian area after the air pollutant index (API) exceeded over 200.[39]
- 15–24 August – 2026 Sukma Games in Selangor
- 27 August – Former prime minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob is charged with failure to provide a complete declaration of his assets.[40]
Predicted and scheduled
National Day and Malaysia Day
Theme
Malaysia MADANI: Kesejahteraan Dinikmati (Civilised Malaysia: Shared Prosperity)
National Day parade
Putrajaya Square, Putrajaya
Malaysia Day celebration
Deaths
January
- 9 January – Wang Choon Wing, former Member of Parliament (MP) for Lipis.[41]
- 26 January – Tan Yee Khan, badminton player.[42]
February
- 2 February – Koon Yew Yin, co-founder of Gamuda Bhd and IJM Corp Bhd.[43]
- 8 February – Along Eyzendy, actor.[44]
- 19 February – Abdul Hamid Mohamad, former Chief Justice of Malaysia.[45]
March
- 11 March – Marina Yusof, politician.[46]
- 13 March – Siti Norma Yaakob, former Chief Justice of Malaya.[47]
- 28 March – Yu Chin Liik, Sarawakian politician.[48]
- 30 March – Lim Guan Teik, founder of Muda Holdings and a pioneering figure in Malaysia's paper industry.[49]
April
- 4 April – Ling Liong Sik, former President of the Malaysian Chinese Association and Minister of Transport[50]
- 10 April – Mohd Hashim Abdullah, former chairman of the Election Commission.[51]
- 19 April – Lau Cheng Kiong, President of the Sibu Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry and prominent businessman.[52]
- 23 April – Tajang Laing, Orang Ulu politician, former Member of the Cobbold Commission, Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Belaga.[53]
May
- 13 May – Teh Kew San, 91, badminton Champion.[54]
- 31 May – Yazid Baba, former Member of the Negeri Sembilan State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Terentang.[55]
June
- 7 June – Mohd Jamil Md Idross, former Member of the Kedah State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Pengkalan Kundor.[56]
July
- 9 July – Ramzi Ab Rahman, former Member of the Kelantan State Legislative Assembly (MLA) for Dabong.[57]
- 10 July – Che Min Che Ahmad, former Member of Parliament (MP) for Pasir Puteh.[58]
August
- 5 August – Kamarool Haji Yusoff, actor.[59]
- 7 August – Mohamed Eusoff Chin, chief justice (1994–2000).[60]
See also
References
- ↑ Yusof, Iman Muttaqin (1 January 2026). "Malaysia tightens trip on major social media platforms - will it make the Internet safer?". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
- ↑ "Malaysia suspends access to Musk's Grok AI: regulator". France 24. 11 January 2026. Retrieved 12 January 2026.
- ↑ Tee, Kenneth (12 January 2026). "HELP University cafeteria blast leaves one dead, nine injured; LPG leak suspected". Malay Mail. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
- ↑ Ram, Sadho (13 January 2026). "One Dead, 9 Injured: Everything You Should Know About The Bukit Damansara University Explosion". SAYS. Retrieved 14 January 2026.
- ↑ "3 dead in Banting factory blaze". Free Malaysia Today. 15 January 2026. Retrieved 16 January 2026.
- ↑ "Malaysia to charge 2 former generals in high-profile military corruption case". ABC News. Associated Press. 22 January 2026. Archived from the original on 23 January 2026. Retrieved 23 January 2026.
- ↑ "Official: BN sweeps Kinabatangan and Lamag by-elections with big majorities". Malay Mail. 24 January 2026. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
- ↑ "Malaysia football officials quit over foreign-born players scandal". BBC. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 28 January 2026.
- ↑ "Malaysia seizes $129.9 million in crude oil from suspected illegal ship-to-ship transfer". The Nation. 1 February 2026. Retrieved 1 February 2026.
- ↑ "Malaysia bans e-waste imports, vows to end illegal dumping". Associated Press. 5 February 2026. Retrieved 6 February 2026.
- ↑ "A writer is cleared by Thai court after Malaysian agency withdraws defamation case". Associated Press. 17 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ↑ "Strong 7.1-magnitude quake hits off Malaysia's Sabah state; some in S'pore say they felt tremors". The Straits Times. 23 February 2026. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ↑ "Malaysia blocks Grindr, Blued amid rising LGBTQ restrictions". South China Morning Post. Bloomberg News. 25 February 2026. Retrieved 1 March 2026.
- ↑ Power, John (27 March 2026). "Malaysia's ships allowed to pass Strait of Hormuz, PM Anwar says". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 27 March 2026. Retrieved 27 March 2026.
- ↑ "Government withdraws appeal over Pastor Koh's classified report". The Edge. 1 April 2026. Archived from the original on 4 April 2026. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
- ↑ "Malaysia's Petronas to supply excess fuel to Australia as leaders vow closer cooperation". Reuters. 16 April 2026. Retrieved 19 April 2026.
- ↑ "Malaysia stops illegal sea entry of 25 Myanmar migrants, including teens". AP News. 17 April 2026. Retrieved 4 May 2026.
- ↑ "Man arrested over fatal Kota Tinggi shooting". The Straits Times. 19 April 2026. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
- ↑ "Farmer remanded for seven days over fatal shooting that killed three in Johor". The Straits Times. 20 April 2026. Retrieved 22 April 2026.
- ↑ "Fire destroys 1,000 homes in a Malaysian coastal village on Borneo Island". AP News. 21 April 2026. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
- ↑ "Malaysia searches for 14 missing Indonesians after a migrant boat sinks". AP News. 12 May 2026. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- ↑ "Must pass SPM BM and History first: Anwar confirms UEC students can enter public universities". Malay Mail. 15 May 2026. Archived from the original on 15 May 2026. Retrieved 15 May 2026.
- ↑ "Malaysian police arrest 51 men, seize drugs in raids linked to 'gay party'". Reuters. 26 May 2026. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
- ↑ "Under-16 social media users given one month to save data as age verification rollout begins". The Star. 1 June 2026. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ↑ Yusof, Amir (1 June 2026). "Johor state assembly dissolved, paving way for snap polls within 60 days". Channel News Asia. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ↑ "Johor police arrest 19-year-old, seize Mercedes after deadly five-vehicle crash near Renggam". Malay Mail. 2 June 2026. Retrieved 5 June 2026.
- ↑ "Negeri Sembilan state assembly dissolved". The Straits Times. 5 June 2026. ISSN 0585-3923. Retrieved 10 July 2026.
- ↑ "Six, including baby, killed in Sungai Petani crash [WATCH]". NST. 7 June 2026. Retrieved 14 June 2026.
- ↑ Yusof, Iman Muttaqin (12 June 2026). "In Malaysia, over 1,000 Orang Asli rally for land rights: 'we're not going anywhere'". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 13 June 2026.
- ↑ "Johor polls: BN sweeps 48 of 56 seats as PM Anwar's PH cedes ground in southern state". Channel News Asia. 11 July 2026. Retrieved 12 July 2026.
- ↑ Race, Michael; Velasquez, Francisco; Crew, Jemma; Chia, Osmond (24 July 2026). "US hits dozens of countries with new wave of tariffs". BBC News. Retrieved 25 July 2026.
- ↑ "US summons Malaysia envoy over Israel policy". Al Jazeera English. 24 July 2026. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
- ↑ Azhar, Danial; Latiff, Rozanna (27 July 2026). "Malaysia detains over 100 Rohingya refugees seeking shelter at UNHCR". Reuters. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
- ↑ "Malaysian authorities release over 100 Rohingya refugees from detention". Reuters. 29 July 2026. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
- ↑ Hakim, Luqman (29 July 2026). "[UPDATED] Anwar: Myanmar agrees to take back 5,000 Rohingya from Malaysia". New Straits Times. Retrieved 29 July 2026.
- ↑ Ahmad, Razak; Yuen, Meikeng; Pfordten, Diyana; Dzulkifli, Shyafiq (2 August 2026). "INTERACTIVE: Here's how Negri Sembilan voted in the polls". The Star. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
- ↑ Yusuf, Suharmin (8 August 2026). "Container seized at Port of Tanjung Pelepas over suspected Israel-bound shipment [WATCH]". New Straits Times. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
- ↑ Ten, Marilyn (10 August 2026). "53rd MSS Sarawak Athletics Championship postponed due to unhealthy air quality". The Borneo Post. Archived from the original on 16 August 2026.
- ↑ "Malaysia's Sarawak shuts 108 schools as haze worsens, state media says". Reuters. 12 August 2026.
- ↑ "Another former Malaysia prime minister faces criminal charges after leaving office". AP News. Retrieved 27 August 2026.
- ↑ Jalaluddin, Julianna (9 January 2026). "MCA mourns passing of party veteran Wang Choon Wing". NST Online. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ↑ "Malaysian badminton great, Thomas Cup winner Tan Yee Khan dies aged 86". Malay Mail. 26 January 2026. Retrieved 26 January 2026.
- ↑ "Koon Yew Yin, co-founder of Gamuda and IJM Corp, dies at 93". Malay Mail. 3 February 2026. Retrieved 5 February 2026.
- ↑ "Malaysian actor Along Eyzendy dies after three days in ICU". The Star. 8 February 2026. Retrieved 10 February 2026.
- ↑ Kaur, Minderjeet (19 February 2026). "Ex-chief justice Abdul Hamid dies". Free Malaysia Today. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
- ↑ "Marina Yusoff Passes Away". Business News Malaysia. 12 March 2026. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
- ↑ "First female Chief Judge of Malaya, Siti Norma Yaakob, dies at 85". Malay Mail. 13 March 2026. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
- ↑ "毕生献身社会工作 余清禄辞世享年79岁 - 地方 - 南砂". 星洲网 Sin Chew Daily Malaysia Latest News and Headlines (in Chinese (China)). 28 March 2026. Retrieved 28 March 2026.
- ↑ "Paper industry giant Lim Guan Teik passes away at 91 - News". MySinchew 星洲网 Sin Chew Daily Malaysia Latest News and Headlines (in Chinese (China)). 31 March 2026. Retrieved 1 April 2026.
- ↑ "Ex-MCA president Dr Ling Liong Sik dies". Free Malaysia Today. 4 April 2026. Retrieved 4 April 2026.
- ↑ "Bekas Pengerusi SPR meninggal dunia". Berita Harian. BERNAMA. 10 April 2026. Retrieved 10 April 2026.
- ↑ "Prominent Sibu businessman Datuk Lau Cheng Kiong passes away at 75". Borneo Post Online. 20 April 2026. Retrieved 21 April 2026.
- ↑ "Orang Ulu statesman Bo' Tajang Laing passes away at 100". DayakDaily. 24 April 2026. Retrieved 28 April 2026.
- ↑ "Former Malaysian Thomas Cup captain Kew San dies at 91". Buletin Mutiara. 13 May 2026. Retrieved 14 May 2026.
- ↑ "Bekas ADUN Terentang, Tan Sri Mohd Yazid Baba meninggal dunia". Sinar Harian (in Malay). 31 May 2026. Retrieved 31 May 2026.
- ↑ rusyaidi.shahid (7 June 2026). "Bekas ADUN Pengkalan Kundor ditemui lemas, dipercayai terjatuh ketika alih kenderaan". Buletin TV3. Retrieved 7 June 2026.
- ↑ KAMARUDIN, HAZELEN LIANA (9 July 2026). "Bekas ADUN Dabong, Ketua UMNO Kuala Krai meninggal dunia". Sinar Harian (in Malay). Retrieved 10 July 2026.
- ↑ KAMARUDIN, HAZELEN LIANA (10 July 2026). "Bekas Ahli Parlimen Pasir Puteh meninggal dunia". Sinar Harian (in Malay). Retrieved 10 July 2026.
- ↑ Mohamad Nor, Khadijah (5 August 2026). "Pelakon veteran Kamarool Yusoff meninggal dunia". Malaysia Tribune (in Malay). Retrieved 5 August 2026.
- ↑ "Former chief justice Mohamed Eusoff Chin passes away". The Star. 7 August 2026. Retrieved 7 August 2026.