1981
| Currency Rate to USD | 2.3 |
| GDP Per Capita (USD) | 1843 |
| Population (millions) | 13.4 |
| Nasi Lemak Price | RM0.30 |
| Teh Tarik Price | RM0.10 |
| Urban Population Percentage | 37.3% |
New Economic Policy Era
After racial riots in 1969, the government launched the NEP to reduce poverty and economic disparity, especially among Malays and indigenous folks.
Mahathir Era
Mahathir Mohamad’s long premiership brought ambitious modernisation: highways, skyscrapers (yes, Petronas Twin Towers), national car (Proton), new administrative centres.
Cold War
After WWII, the world splits into blocs—capitalist West led by U.S., communist East led by USSR. People everywhere feel the pressure: fear of nuclear annihilation, propaganda, ideological influence in media and education, proxy wars in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
Launch of Amanah Saham Nasional
The launch of the Amanah Saham Nasional (ASN) scheme on 20 April 1981 marked a pivotal moment in Malaysia's efforts to democratize investment opportunities and foster broader economic participation among its citizens through a low-risk unit trust fund managed by Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad (ASNB).
Death of Sultan Ismail of Johor and Accession of Sultan Iskandar
On 10 May 1981, Sultan Ismail of Johor passed away at the age of 86 after a 22-year reign, leading to the immediate accession of his son, Tunku Mahmood Iskandar, as the 28th Sultan of Johor on 11 May.
Kanang anak Langkau Awarded the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa
On 3 June 1981, Warrant Officer Kanang anak Langkau, an Iban soldier from Sarawak, received Malaysia's highest gallantry award, the Seri Pahlawan Gagah Perkasa, from Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Ahmad Shah, recognizing his supreme courage in counter-insurgency operations during the Second Malayan Emergency.
Execution of Botak Chin
Botak Chin, whose real name was Wong Swee Chin, was a notorious Malaysian gangster executed by hanging on 11 June 1981 at Pudu Prison under the Internal Security Act for firearms possession and armed robberies, marking a significant enforcement of post-independence security measures against organized crime.
Mahathir Mohamad becomes Prime Minister of Malaysia
On July 16, 1981, Mahathir Mohamad was sworn in as the fourth Prime Minister of Malaysia, succeeding Hussein Onn and initiating a period of significant economic and administrative reforms that shaped the nation's modernization efforts.
State Visit by Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang to Malaysia, 1981
In August 1981, Chinese Premier Zhao Ziyang made a historic state visit to Malaysia, the first since diplomatic relations were established in 1974.
Dawn Raid acquisition of Guthrie Corporation 1981
On 7 September 1981, Malaysia's Permodalan Nasional Berhad executed a coordinated stock market raid on the London Stock Exchange to gain majority control of the British-owned Guthrie Corporation, marking a pivotal moment in Malaysia's economic nationalism and the repatriation of colonial-era plantation assets.
