Top News of 2018

18

Anti-Fake News law

A law hastily voted on and passed in Parliament just weeks before the general election with the attempt to repeal it by the new government stymied by a Senate still dominated by BN loyalists.

Scored 13,833 pts

17

Anti-Icerd campaign

The new government aborted the ratification of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (Icerd) prompting PAS and Umno to “celebrate” with a rally of some 80,000 people at Dataran Merdeka.

Scored 14,131 pts

16

Orang Asli blockades

Orang Asli in Gua Musang set up blockades to pressure the PAS-led Kelantan government to stop loggers from encroaching upon their land.

Scored 14,176 pts

15

Pulau Kukup & the Johor royalty

Pulau Kukup was alienated by the Johor sultan who decreed that the mangrove swamps island would be maintained as a national park. Critics argued that there was no need for the change of its status to sultanate land as it was already a national park.

Scored 14,311 pts

14

The Indira Gandhi case

The country’s highest court granted an appeal by kindergarten teacher M Indira Gandhi who challenged the unilateral conversion of her three children to Islam by her ex-husband Muhammad Riduan Abdullah.

Scored 14,615 pts

13

Return of Dr Mahathir Mohamad

The 93-year-old former prime minister scored an incredulous election victory in leading Harapan to ‘Save Malaysia’ and make history.

Scored 15,540 pts

12

Malaysia & Singapore spat

With Mahathir returning as prime minister, ties with Singapore took a turn for the worse as the two neighbours bristled at each other in disputes over air and sea limits.

Scored 15,689 pts

11

Cancellation of China-funded projects

Major projects by the previous administration such as the East Coast Rail Line (ECRL) and the construction of two multi-billion-ringgit gas pipelines were terminated as the new government sought to cut costs.

Scored 17,326 pts

10

Repeal of the GST

The new government abolished the unpopular Goods and Services Tax and reintroduced the former Sales and Services Tax (SST) resulting in a RM20 billion shortfall as the economy struggled to regain its footing.

Scored 18,495 pts

9

Tommy Thomas & Richard Malanjum

In a break with the past, constitutional lawyer Tommy Thomas and Sabahan Richard Malanjum were appointed attorney-general and chief justice respectively. Both are from minority communities.

Scored 18,731 pts

8

Anwar Ibrahim's royal pardon and release

After receiving a pardon from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, he went on to win the Port Dickson parliamentary seat and was elected PKR president unopposed after a bitterly fought party polls for his No 2.

Scored 18,779 pts

7

Seafield temple riots

The violent clashes at the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Subang Jaya, Selangor saw scores being arrested and the death of a 24-year-old firefighter, Muhammad Adib Mohd Kassim.

Scored 19,147 pts

6

New cabinet & 100-day promises

A cabinet of many firsts comprising wet-behind-the-ears ministers whose appointments to a number of portfolios were delayed. This was preceded by the setting up of a Council of Eminent Persons (CEP) as well as Harapan's 10 manifesto promises in 100 days.

Scored 19,267 pts

5

1MDB and Equanimity

Indonesia handed over the superyacht Equanimity (seized in Bali) to Malaysia while books detailing the massive 1MDB scandal were launched by Sarawak Report’s Clare Newcastle Brown and Wall Street Journal’s Tom Wright and Bradley Hope.

Scored 20,805 pts

4

BN crumbles

In the wake of GE14, the long-time ruling coalition began to disintegrate after the decimation of minor parties. Meanwhile, the coalition’s linchpin, Umno, faced defections and the new leadership resorted to wooing PAS to maintain Malay votes.

Scored 22,907 pts

3

Najib, Rosmah & Co arrested

Raids were conducted on residences linked to former premier Najib Abdul Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor. Both were later charged for offences linked to 1MDB while a string of other Umno leaders was also taken to court.

Scored 23,663 pts

2

Child Marriage

One of the first issues to confront the new government was the marriage between a Malaysian man and an 11-year-old Thai girl. Another controversial syariah issue was the whipping of two Muslim women accused of lesbian sex in Terengganu.

Scored 23,784 pts

1

The winner is...

GE14

A historic national election on May 9 that led to a change of regime for the first time in the nation’s history as Pakatan Harapan won federal power despite a new re-delineation of electoral boundaries favouring the then ruling BN.

Scored 25,917 pts