← 1987 1986 1985 1988 in Malaysia → 1989 1990 1991
Decades:	1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s
See also:	Other events of 1988 History of Malaysia  • Timeline  • Years

This article lists important figures and events in Malaysian public affairs during the year 1988, together with births and deaths of notable Malaysians.

Incumbent political figures

Federal level

• Yang di-Pertuan Agong: Sultan Iskandar
• Raja Permaisuri Agong: Sultanah Zanariah
• Prime Minister: Dato' Sri Dr Mahathir Mohamad
• Deputy Prime Minister: Dato' Ghafar Baba
• Lord President: Mohamed Salleh Abas then Abdul Hamid Omar

State level

• Sultan of Johor: Tunku Ibrahim Ismail (Regent)
• Sultan of Kedah: Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah
• Sultan of Kelantan: Sultan Ismail Petra
• Raja of Perlis: Tuanku Syed Putra
• Sultan of Perak:Sultan Azlan Shah (Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong)
• Sultan of Pahang: Sultan Ahmad Shah
• Sultan of Selangor: Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah
• Sultan of Terengganu: Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah
• Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan: Tuanku Jaafar
• Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Penang: Tun Dr Awang Hassan
• Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Malacca: Tun Syed Ahmad Al-Haj bin Syed Mahmud Shahabuddin
• Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Sarawak: Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce Mohammed Noor
• Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Sabah: Tun Said Keruak

Events

• 4 February – UMNO was declared an illegal organisation by the High Court.
• 14 February – UMNO Baru was formed.
• 22 February – The longest hanging dragon in Malaysia was hung at The Mall, Kuala Lumpur during Chinese New Year to mark the Year of the Dragon.
• 1 March – Ipoh was granted city status.
• 11 March – The Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Mosque in Shah Alam, Selangor was fully constructed. This is the largest mosque in Malaysia.
• 13 May – The Highway Concessionnaires Berhad changed its name to Projek Lebuhraya Utara-Selatan (PLUS).
• 4 July – The Malaysian constitutional crisis ended.
• July – Opening of the Sultan Ismail Power Station in Paka, Terengganu, the largest power station in Malaysia.
• 31 July – Sultan Abdul Halim ferry terminal bridge collapse in Butterworth, Penang killed 32 and injured 1,674 people.
• 1 August – Kuching was granted city status. It comprises Kuching North and Kuching South.
• 29 August – The biggest Malaysian flag was hung in Angkasapuri and is the largest flag in this country ever hung to date.
• 16 September – Sarawak celebrated its 25th anniversary of independence within Malaysia.
• 21 November – Air France's supersonic Concorde made its first landing at Subang International Airport.
• 18 December – Footballer R Arumugam died in a car accident on Federal Highway near Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Births

• 5 January — Azizulhasni Awang — Track Cyclist
• 9 January – Anzalna Nasir – Actress
• 28 March – Liyana Jasmay – Actress
• 23 April – Hairul Azreen – Actor
• 1 June - Jess Lee - Singer and songwriter
• 13 June – Shukri Yahaya – Actor
• 30 June – Alif Hadi – Actor and host
• 30 July – Wen Chean Lim – rhythmic gymnast^[1]
• 15 August – Hazman Al-Idrus – Singer
• 25 October – Tiz Zaqyah – Actress
• 17 November – Durratun Nashihin Rosli – rhythmic gymnast^[2]
• 15 December – Idris Khan – Actor

Deaths

• 17 March – Tun Tan Siew Sin – Minister of Commerce and Industry, Minister of Finance and MCA president
• 29 June – Tengku Ampuan Afzan of Pahang and 7th Raja Permaisuri Agong
• 22 August – Tun Henry H S Lee – First Finance Minister
• 18 December – R Arumugam – Footballer