This article lists important figures and events in Malaysian public affairs during the year 1998, together with births and deaths of notable Malaysians. Malaysia hosted the XVI Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur between 11 and 21 September.
August – Lawsuit submitted by 73 residents in blocks two and three of the Highland Towers apartments, with a trial held at the Kuala Lumpur High Court in front of High Court Judge, Datuk James Foong. Summons against developers and nine others for losses suffered between RM31 million and RM35 million. The group sued Highland Properties Sdn Bhd, Wong Tin Sang's plan, Wong Yuen Kean engineer, Ampang Municipal Council (MPAJ), Arab-Malaysian Finance Berhad, Tropic Developments Sdn Bhd and Metroplux Sdn Bhd.[1]
2 September – Anwar Ibrahim was expelled from UMNO and Dr. Munawar Anees, Anwar's former speechwriter, and Sukma Darmawan Sasmita Atmadja, Anwar's adoptive brother, were arrested under suspicion of engaging in sodomy acts.[2]
11–21 September – This 16th edition of the games in Kuala Lumpur was the first to be held in Asia. 69 countries were represented, including Cameroon, Kiribati and Mozambique which competed for the first time. For the first time team sports of cricket, field hockey, netball and rugby sevens were introduced. Malaysia won ten gold medals, fourteen silver medals and twelve bronze medals and ranked overall in fourth place.[5]
20 September – Anwar Ibrahim addressed a protest gathering of nearly 100,000 people in Kuala Lumpur, after which a number of his supporters marched to Mahathir Mohamad's then official residence Sri Perdana demanding reformasi (economic and political reforms) and Mahathir's resignation.[2]
Malaysia was only formed on September 16, 1963. Prior to that date, Peninsular Malaysia was known as Malaya, Sarawak under Crown Colony of Sarawak and Kingdom of Sarawak and Sabah under North Borneo.