# 1979 in Malaysia

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, Langgar, Kota Bharu [ms].
* 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 Hj Yaacob – Malayan politician and founder of the Kesatuan Melayu Muda (KMM) (Young Malay Union)
* 29 March – Sultan Yahya Petra of Kelantan and 6th Yang di-Pertuan Agong
* 30 March – E. E. C. Thuraisingham – first local Member (Minister) for Education in the Communities Liaison Committee
* 27 April – Shariff Dol – Malay film actor
* 18 May – Tun V.T Sambanthan – former MIC president and Minister of Works and Communications
* 20 September – Panglima Ismail Nasir Shah of Terengganu and 4th Yang di-Pertuan Agong
* 12 October – V. Manickavasagam – 6th President of the Malaysian Indian Congress (1973-1979)
* 25 October – Sir Gerald Templer – Former British High Commissioner In King House (1970 - 1975)