This article lists important figures and events in Malaysian public affairs during the year 2003, together with births and deaths of notable Malaysians.
5 April – A 64-year-old man from Jerantut, Pahang died of Severe Acute Respiatory Syndrome (SARS) virus.[8]
May — The Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) signed a deal to purchase 18 Russian Sukhoi Su-30MKMjet fighters worth almost $1 billion. The Su-30MKMs would be delivered in batches starting in early 2007. As part of the deal, the Russians would send a Malaysian astronaut (angkasawan) to the International Space Station (ISS).[9]
25 May – A 19-year-old salesgirl died when a car driven by 21-year-old college student crashed into her and several friends seated at a table set up at a roadside in front of a 24-hour restaurant in Section 14, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
23 June – The base of a tower once part of the Porto de Santiago fort built by the Portuguese 500 years earlier was discovered near Padang Pahlawan, Malacca.
24 July – The Federal Special Forces of Malaysia (FSFM) was declared an illegal organisation by the federal government because its activities posed a threat to national security. Nor Azami Ahmad Ghazali the leader of the FSFM and 24 of its members were arrested.[12]
18 September – Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad paid a glowing tribute to former MCA president Ling Liong Sik for his successful service as transport minister and Cabinet minister for 27 years.[19]
23 September –Media Prima Berhad, Malaysia's largest integrated media group of companies was launched.[20]
1 December – 14 passengers were killed in an early morning collision involving two buses – a school bus which was converted for commercial use and an express bus – at the 63rd kilometre of the Kuala Lipis-Merapoh trunk road near Merapoh, Pahang. 23 others were injured.[27]
December – The Malaysian National Service (Program Latihan Khidmat Negara (PLKN)) was introduced as the conscription training program.
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Sultan of Johor: Sultan Iskandar
Sultan of Kedah: Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah
Sultan of Kelantan: Sultan Ismail Petra
Raja of Perlis: Tuanku Syed Faizuddin (Regent)
Sultan of Perak: Sultan Azlan Shah
Sultan of Pahang: Sultan Ahmad Shah
Sultan of Selangor: Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah
Sultan of Terengganu: Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin (Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong)
Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan: Tuanku Jaafar
Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Penang: Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas
Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Malacca: Tun Syed Ahmad Al-Haj bin Syed Mahmud Shahabuddin
Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Sarawak: Tun Abang Mohammad Salahuddin
Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Sabah: Tun Sakaran Dandai (until 31 December)
