2020 in Malaysia

Events in the year 2020 in Malaysia.

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See also:Other events of 2020
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Federal level

State level

Events

January
  • 1 January – Smoking ban officially takes place after a year-long grace period last year.[1]
  • 1 January – Visit Malaysia Year 2020 officially begins.
  • 3 January – Maszlee Malik resigns as Minister of Education.[2]
  • 7–12 January – 2020 Malaysia Badminton Masters.
  • 8 January – The MACC releases nine phone audio recordings received about a week earlier, recorded between 5 January to 29 July 2016, totaling about 45 minutes, revealing former prime minister Najib Razak's attempts to cover up investigations into the 1MDB scandal, which MACC chief Latheefa Beebi Koya described as "shocking, as there are attempts at cover-ups and subversion of justice".[3][4] One of the audio recordings featured a conversation between Najib and his wife Rosmah Mansor, who sounded upset at Najib's mishandling on the scandal. In another audio recording, Najib was seeking help from United Arab Emirates Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to help clear Najib's stepson, Riza Aziz's involvement in the scandal.[5]
  • 8 January – Former prime minister Najib Razak is in for nearly a full year of court appearances, after the High Court fixed further hearing dates from February until October for his corruption trial involving 25 charges over the 1MDB scandal.[6]
  • 13 January – Japanese national badminton player, Kento Momota was injured in an accident early in the morning on his way to airport after competed at the 2020 Malaysia Masters when the van he was on hit the back of the lorry on Maju Expressway in which the driver was killed.[7]
  • 18 January – 2020 Kimanis by-election. It was won by Mohamad Alamin a Barisan Nasional candidate from component party United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), replacing original member of parliament Anifah Aman whose election result was disqualified.
  • 20 January - The Thai Peace Dialogue Panel, led by General Wanlop Rugsanaoh, met with Barisan Revolusi Nasional representative Anas Abdulrahman in Kuala Lumpur, in what was described as "the first round of official peace dialogue" by BNR official Abdul Aziz Jabal.[8]
  • 25 January - COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia

February
  • 7–14 February – 2020 Tour de Langkawi.
  • 21 February
    • A meeting was held by the presidential council of the PH coalition political party. The meeting is said to discuss the issue of handing over power from Tun Mahathir Mohamad to PKR President, Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim Anwar Ibrahim who is labeled as 'Prime Minister in waiting'. Mahathir initially stated that he would resign as Prime Minister after APEC Malaysia 2020.
  • 22 February – Six-time Malaysian Super League champions Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) has officially moved into their new Sultan Ibrahim Stadium from Larkin Stadium, its previous venue. The new stadium was officiated by Johor Ruler Sultan Ibrahim Ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar on Saturday night.[11]
  • 23 February – 2020 Malaysian constitutional crisis:
    • Some political parties held extraordinary meetings; UMNO at Putra World Trade Center (PWTC) in Kuala Lumpur, BERSATU at its headquarters at Menara Yayasan Selangor in Petaling, PAS and Umno in Janda Baik, Pahang, and Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) in Kuala Lumpur. PKR Deputy President and Minister of Economic Affairs, Dato' Seri Mohamad Azmin Ali also held a meeting with several lawmakers from the party and 20 others at the Sheraton Hotel, Petaling.
    • The meeting became known as the Sheraton Move. Azmin and PKR allies went to Istana Negara in the evening to ask to see the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. Leaders from other political parties include Muhyiddin Yassin (BERSATU) who is also the Home Minister, Dato' Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (Umno), Dato' Seri Abang Johari Tun Openg (GPS), Dato' Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal (WARISAN) and Dato' Seri Seri Tuan Guru Hadi Awang (PAS) was also present.
    • Anwar is said to be aware of a new political movement involving a small group from Bersatu and PKR.
  • 24 February – 2020 Malaysian constitutional crisis:
    • Anwar Ibrahim and Deputy Prime Minister, Dato' Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail who is also Anwar's wife as well as AMANAH President, Mohamad Sabu and DAP Secretary General, Lim Guan Eng, went to Mahathir's residence to hold a meeting to get an explanation about the previous day's incident.
    • Azmin and the Minister of Housing and Local Government, Zuraida Kamaruddin who is also the Vice President of PKR have been sacked from the PKR party. Azmin then announced that he would form an independent bloc in Parliament with Zuraida and 9 other MPs who decided to leave the party following their expulsion.
    • Mahathir announced his resignation as Chairman of BERSATU. Following his resignation, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Sultan Abdullah accepted Mahathir's resignation and appointed him as Interim Prime Minister until a new Prime Minister is elected.
    • BERSATU and PKR's Azmin Ali left the coalition, which caused Pakatan Harapan lost majority as government. The cabinet was automatically dissolved by Tun Mahathir's resignation.
  • 24 February – High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Ghazali has ruled that former prime minister Najib Razak's defence team cannot compel Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigating officer (IO) Mohd Nasharudin Amir into being interviewed prior to him testifying in court.[12]
  • 25 February – 2020 Malaysian constitutional crisis:
    • The first interview session held by Agong at Istana Negara; a total of 90 Members of Parliament randomly (not according to party) were called before the YDPA starting at 2:30 pm today. This interview session (2-3 minutes) between YDPA and Members of Parliament aims to determine support for certain parties to form a new government.
    • Umno and PAS, which are the first group to have interview session with Agong, stated that they support for Mahathir to continue as Prime Minister. UMNO Secretary General Tan Sri Annuar Musa said the basis of negotiations with Mahathir was that Umno and PAS would give their support to form an alternative coalition without DAP. On the other hand, both Umno and PAS declared support for the election to be held. Reports suggest that Mahathir is setting up a 'Unity Government' on the condition that the two sides cannot agree.
  • 26 February – 2020 Malaysian constitutional crisis:
    • The remaining 131 Members of Parliament will be summoned before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong today. (No former Minister or Deputy Minister will participate in this session). Tun Mahathir apologized for the political crisis and explained the reason for his resignation. He wants to create a government that is non-partisan (non-partisan) that is made up of individuals rather than political parties.
  • 27 February – 2020 Malaysian constitutional crisis:
    • Mahathir once again went to the palace to see the Agong. The purpose of the meeting is not known although there is much speculation that Mahathir discussed the formation of a new cabinet. At noon, Bersatu Secretary General, Dato' Marzuki Yahya, confirmed that Mahathir had withdrawn his resignation as Bersatu Chairman.
  • 27 February – The High Court heard that businessman Jho Low had referred to former prime minister Najib Razak as his “boss” when dealing with sums of money totalling RM170 million that were transferred in and out of Putrajaya Perdana Bhd’s (PPB) subsidiaries from SRC International Sdn Bhd.[13]
  • 28 February – 2020 Malaysian constitutional crisis:
    • A meeting of the Council of Rulers was held in the morning at the Istana Negara to discuss political changes in the country, with state rulers or their crown princes present.
    • Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, Dato' Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof denied Mahathir's announcement regarding the Special Session of Parliament. Ariff said that he had received a letter from Mahathir stating that the government had agreed to hold a special meeting on March 2 but this announcement did not comply with Meeting Regulation 11(3).
    • The Yang di-Pertuan Agong will call the leaders of political parties that have members of parliament to appear before him, to enable them to nominate a candidate for the position of Prime Minister to resolve the impasse. But the Agong is said to be unable to find a candidate who has the confidence of the majority of MPs to form a new government.
    • BERSATU then issued a statement that they announcing their support for BERSATU President, Muhyiddin Yassin as the Prime Minister candidate, supported by 26 BERSATU Members of Parliament and 10 others led by Azmin. More than 60 Members of Parliament from UMNO, PAS, MCA and MIC also announced their support for Muhyiddin.
    • Attorney General Tommy Thomas sent his resignation letter to the Interim Prime Minister, Tun Mahathir, but no reason was given.
  • 29 February – 2020 Malaysian constitutional crisis:
    • Bersatu Youth chief, Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman declared that he will not cooperate with those involved in corruption to form the government, he was referring to Umno.
    • The Pakatan Harapan Presidential Council held a meeting to discuss the current political situation in the country. After the meeting ended, they, then announced their support for Mahathir as the Prime Minister candidate, thus setting aside the coalition's stance supporting PKR President, Anwar Ibrahim as the Prime Minister candidate.
    • Before going to Istana Negara, Muhyiddin also announced that new coalition party consists of BERSATU, UMNO, MCA, MIC, PAS, GPS and STAR which is called Perikatan Nasional.
    • Istana Negara issued a statement that Muhyiddin had received the highest support from Members of Parliament and was approved to be appointed as the 8th Prime Minister of Malaysia by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. He will be sworn in on the morning of March 1 at the Istana Negara.
    • That night, Mahathir released a list of 114 Members of Parliament who supported him and hoped the Agong would accept it. Among those MPs are Mahathir, his son Dato' Seri Mukhriz Mahathir and 4 Bersatu MPs, Pakatan Harapan MPs, WARISAN MPs including also, Dato' Seri Jeffrey Kitingan from STAR, Dato' Seri Maximus Ongkili from GBS, Baru Bian and Jonathan Yasin who were previously in Azmin's block .

March
  • 1 March – Muhyiddin Yassin was sworn in as the 8th Prime Minister of Malaysia in front of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong at Istana Negara.[14]
  • 3 March – The High Court dismissed the prosecution’s application to initiate contempt of court proceedings after former deputy prime minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi made a public apology.[15]
  • 9 March – Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin formed his first cabinet, eight days after sworn in.[16]
  • 15 March – COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
    • The positive cases of coronavirus increased from 242 to 428, with the highest record increase number at that time. Most of the infects are related to a religious event at a mosque in Kuala Lumpur.[17]
  • 16 March – COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
    • Malaysia will impose a nationwide partial lockdown (known as the Movement Control Order) from 18 to 31 March to contain the coronavirus.[18]
  • 17 March – COVID-19 pandemic in Malaysia
    • First coronavirus related death case reported as two deaths recorded on that day.[19]
  • 18 March – Visit Malaysia 2020 has been cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic and movement control order.[20]
  • 25 March – Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announces that movement control order be extended until April 14.[21]

April
  • 10 April – Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announces that movement control order be extended for another two weeks until April 28.[22]
  • 23 April – Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announces that movement control order be extended for another two weeks until May 12.[23]

May
  • 8 May – Conditional Movement Control Order extended till 9 June 2020.

June
  • 2 June – The High Court has fixed July 27 for the case management of Najib Razak's money laundering case involving RM27 million of SRC International Sdn Bhd funds.[24]
  • 7 June – Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announces that the Recovery Movement Control Order is extended until 31 August 2020.
  • 23 June – Malaysia leads a 171 nation initiative at the United Nations to support U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterras' appeal for a global ceasefire during the COVID-19 pandemic.[25][26]

July
  • 22 July – The High Court has ruled in favour of the Inland Revenue of Board (IRB) in a summary judgment by allowing it to collect tax arrears from former prime minister Najib Razak for the amount of RM1.69 billion.[27]
  • 28 July – the High Court convicted former prime minister Najib Razak on all seven counts of abuse of power, money laundering and criminal breach of trust, becoming the first Prime Minister of Malaysia to be convicted of corruption,[28][29][30] and was sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment and fined RM210 million.[31][32]
  • 29 July – Former prime minister Najib Razak has paid the additional RM1 million bail that he was required to post in his case involving RM42 million of former 1MDB unit SRC International Sdn Bhd’s funds.[33]

August
  • 26 August – Former transport minister Loke Siew Fook said he had pictures of Umno leaders including former prime minister Najib Razak riding motorcycles without helmets. He said Najib had been wearing a songkok instead of a helmet while campaigning for the Slim by-election.[34]
  • 28 August – Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announces that the Recovery Movement Control Order is extended until 31 December 2020.

September
  • 14 September - Former prime minister Najib Razak is listed on the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) online database of corruption offenders convicted locally. His name at the top of the first page of the MACC Corruption Offenders Database.[35]
  • 24 September - High Court judge Mohd Nazlan Mohd Ghazali observed that former prime minister Najib Razak had expressed no remorse for his actions, and that his explanation that he had used a part of the RM42 million stolen from SRC International Sdn Bhd for charitable purposes simply could not be justified.[36]
  • 26 September - 2020 Sabah state election
    • Perikatan Nasional won the state election and formed government with Barisan Nasional and United Sabah Party and several allied independent politicians. The lack of strict standard operating procedures for the election and the return of voters and politicians from Sabah to Peninsular Malaysia had caused a significant influx of COVID-19 cases in Malaysia. Daily reported cases increased to three digit numbers in the following months. On 7 November, the Federal Government announced the implementation of a Conditional Movement Control Order in majority of states in the Peninsular and the state of Sabah due to the rising number of cases.

December
  • 2 December - Former prime minister Najib Razak has submitted 307 grounds in his petition of appeal on why he should be freed of the charges of misappropriating RM42 million in SRC International Sdn Bhd funds. Najib's lawyer Harvinderjit Singh confirmed that the petition was filed on Oct 19 and that it contained 307 grounds of appeal.[37]

Deaths

January

February

March
  • 18 March – Myanaliza Ruslee, singer (b. 1976).[42]

April

May

August

September

October
  • 2 October – Liew Vui Keong, MP of Batu Sapi
  • 15 October – Tengku Merjan, Mother of Tengku Temenggong Kelantan.[46]
  • 16 October – Abdul Aziz Shamsuddin, Former Minister of Rural and Regional Development

November

December

References
  1. "Multiple notices issued across Malaysia as smoking ban at eateries flouted". The Malay Mail. 1 January 2020.
  2. Amar Shah Mohsen (2 January 2020). "Maszlee announces resignation after advice from Mahathir (Updated)". The Sun. Event occurs at 17:55.
  3. "MACC claims 'criminal conspiracy at highest level' implicating Najib, Rosmah (updated)". The Star Online. 2020-01-08.
  4. "'Darling, you are the PM … take charge': Rosmah tells Najib in leaked audio clips linked to 1MDB scandal". CNA. Archived from the original on 2020-01-11. Retrieved 2020-01-08.
  5. "Phone recordings show abuse of power, fabrication of evidence — Latheefa". The Edge Markets. 2020-01-08.
  6. Tee, Kenneth (2020-01-08). "Najib's 1MDB trial now set to resume in February, run until October". www.malaymail.com.
  7. "Badminton king Momota faces two months out after fatal car crash". The Star. 14 January 2020.
  8. Wongcha-um, Panu (January 21, 2020). Heinrich, Mark (ed.). "Thai officials resume peace dialogue with main southern insurgents". Reuters.
  9. "First coronavirus cases in Malaysia: 3 Chinese nationals confirmed infected, quarantined in Sungai Buloh Hospital". The Borneo Post. 25 January 2020. Retrieved 26 January 2020.
  10. "Malaysia: First cases of 2019-nCoV confirmed January 25". GardaWorld. Retrieved 2021-11-11.
  11. Nordin, Remar (February 22, 2020). "JDT move in to new stadium with much fanfare". The Star. Retrieved February 22, 2020.
  12. Idris, Ahmad Naqib (2020-02-24). "Judge dismisses Najib's bid to compel MACC officer into giving pre-testimony interview". The Edge Markets.
  13. Achariam, Timothy (2020-02-27). "Jho Low called Najib his boss — witness". The Edge Markets.
  14. "Muhyiddin Yassin sworn in as Malaysian PM". CNA. 1 March 2020. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020..
  15. "Prosecution fails to cite Zahid for contempt of court". Borneo Post Online. 2020-03-03.
  16. "PM Muhyiddin announces new Cabinet and new structure". The Star. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  17. "Malaysia reports 190 new coronavirus cases, most linked to mosque event". The Straits Times. 15 March 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  18. Bunyan, John (16 March 2020). "PM: Malaysia under movement control order from Wed until March 31, all shops closed except for essential services". The Malay Mail. Archived from the original on 16 March 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  19. "Malaysia Records 2 Deaths Caused By COVID-19 Pandemic". Says. 17 March 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2020.
  20. "Minister: Visit Malaysia 2020 campaign cancelled". Malay Mail. 18 March 2020. Retrieved 21 March 2020.
  21. "MCO period extended to April 14 - PM". Bernama. 25 March 2020. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
  22. "MCO period extended to April 28 - PM". TheStar. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  23. "Muhyiddin: MCO to be extended another two weeks (updated)". TheStar. 23 April 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2020.
  24. Idris, Ahmad Naqib (2020-06-02). "Najib's RM27m SRC trial set for case management on July 27". The Edge Markets.
  25. "170 signatories endorse UN ceasefire appeal during COVID crisis". UN News. 2020-06-24. Retrieved 2020-07-01.
  26. "Malaysia-Led Initiative at the United Nations "Statement of Support to the United Nations Secretary-General's Appeal for a Global Ceasefire Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic"". MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, MALAYSIA. 23 June 2020. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  27. DZULKIFLY, DANIAL (2020-07-22). "High Court allows IRB to collect RM1.69b in tax arrears from former PM Najib". Malay Mail.
  28. "Former Malaysia PM Najib Razak found guilty of all 7 charges in 1MDB trial". Channel News Asia. 28 July 2020. Archived from the original on 29 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  29. "Najib gets concurrent 12-year jail sentence, RM210mil fine (Live Updates)". The Star.
  30. "Najib Razak: Former Malaysian PM guilty on all charges in corruption trial". BBC News. 28 July 2020. Archived from the original on 28 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  31. "Ex-Malaysian PM Najib gets 12 years' jail in 1MDB-linked graft trial". The Straits Times. 28 July 2020. Archived from the original on 28 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  32. "Former Malaysia PM Najib Razak sentenced to 12 years in jail following guilty verdict in 1MDB trial". Channel NewsAsia. 28 July 2020. Archived from the original on 29 July 2020. Retrieved 28 July 2020.
  33. Lim, Ida (2020-07-29). "Lawyer: Najib posts additional RM1m bail today for SRC case". www.malaymail.com.
  34. "Loke wants RTD to fine all top politicians who ride bikes sans helmet". Malaysiakini. 2020-08-26. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
  35. Lim, Ida (2020-09-14). "Najib makes MACC's online list of corruption offenders after SRC conviction". www.malaymail.com.
  36. "Najib didn't express remorse after being found guilty in 1MDB-linked case, says trial judge". www.straitstimes.com. 2020-09-10.
  37. Mahalingam, Santhakumar (2020-12-02). "Najib files 307 grounds of appeal for release from SRC charges". The Star.
  38. "Ex-Sabah CM Peter Lo passes away". dailyexpress.com.my. 2 January 2020. Retrieved 2 January 2020.
  39. Kenneth Chaw (10 February 2020). "Popular comedian Abam Bocey dies at 32". The Star (Malaysia). Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  40. "Actor Ashraf Sinclair dies of heart attack aged 40". New Straits Times. 18 February 2020. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  41. Terence Toh (19 February 2020). "Revered Malaysian author and academic K.S. Maniam dies at 78". The Star (Malaysia). Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  42. Alhamzah, Tahir (2020-03-18). "#Showbiz: Maya Matahari dies due to cancer | New Straits Times". NST Online. Retrieved 2020-10-03.
  43. Nadia Azam (15 August 2020). Yusof Kelana meninggal dunia (in Malay) Malaysiakini. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  44. Pelakon veteran Abu Bakar Juah meninggal dunia, (in Malay) Astro Awani Retrieved 15 August 2020
  45. Sira Habibu (20 September 2020). "Ku Li's brother Tengku Abdul Aziz dies aged 87". The Star (Malaysia). Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  46. "Mother of Tengku Temenggong Kelantan dies". The Star (Malaysia). 15 October 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  47. "Former minister Tan Sri Zaleha Ismail dies at 84". New Straits Times. 14 November 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  48. Abdul Rahemang Taming (17 November 2020). "Bugaya assemblyman Manis Muka Darah dies". New Straits Times. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  49. "Bekas Ahli Parlimen Sri Gading, Tan Sri Mohamad Aziz meninggal dunia". www.astroawani.com. Retrieved 2020-12-24.
  50. "Former Deputy Information Minister Datuk Railey Jeffrey dies". Bernama. 27 December 2020. Retrieved 29 December 2020.
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