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.

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: Tun Hussein Onn
 * Deputy Prime Minister: Dato' Dr 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.
 * 26 April – Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang was elected as the seventh Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
 * April – Malaysia became the world's largest exporter of semiconductor industry.
 * 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)