Year 1974
Abu Sayyaf rebels kidnapped 3 men
Sunday, 10th September 2000
Abu Sayyaf rebels kidnapped 3 men from Pandanan Island off Borneo and took them to Jolo island in the Philippines.
Eco-Challenge Sabah
Friday, 25th August 2000
78 persons in the Eco-Challenge Sabah encountered flooded rivers over a 2-week race in Malaysian Borneo. A number later found themselves infected with leptospirosis.
Philippine gunmen in Sipadan Island
Sunday, 23rd April 2000
Philippine gunmen abducted 20 people from a Malaysian resort on Sipadan Island. Islamic insurgents took credit for the attack. They later freed 2 hostages and demanded $2.4 million in ransom for 19 captives.
Survivor Pulau Tiga.
Monday, 13th March 2000
CBS began filming its "Survivor" show on the Malaysian island of Pulau Tiga. Filming lasted to 20 April and the last survivor was to be awarded a $1 million prize. 23 August 200, The final winner of the "Survivor" TV contest set on Pulau Tiga island was broadcast to as many as 40-50 million viewers. Richard Hatch, age 39, a corporate trainer from Newport, R.I., won the $1 million grand prize. Interestingly in 2006, Hatch was convicted on three counts related to tax evasion and was sentenced to 51 months in Federal prison plus three years of supervised probation.
64000 Pigs Exterminated
Thursday, 18th March 1999
An outbreak of encephalitis caused a order for the extermination of 64,000 pigs and the evacuation of 11,000 people. It was later reported that some 111 people had died from a new virus that was believed to be spreading from pigs to humans.
KLIA Opens
Wednesday, 3rd June 1998
The new Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) began operations. The airport located about 50 kilometres from Kuala Lumpur city and was built at a cost of about US$3.5 billion. KLIA replaces Subang Airport as KL International Airport.
Riots in 4 detention camps
Thursday, 26th March 1998
Riots flared in 4 detention camps that housed mainly Indonesian illegal immigrants. The Internal Security Act allowed the detention without trial of people caught helping illegals. 8 inmates and one policeman were killed. Over 200 inmates escaped from one camp.
Killing in the rain forest of West Kalimantan
Friday, 28th February 1997
It was reported that the Dayaks were killing the Madurans in the rain forest of West Kalimantan, Borneo. The indigenous Dayaks had killed as many as 300 Madurans in fierce hand combat after a peace treaty was broken. The Madurans were moved in by the government from an overpopulated area.
Boat People Sent Home
Thursday, 18th April 1996
Malaysia was to send about 1200 Vietnamese boat people back home.
First LIMA
Monday, 11th November 1991
The first Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace (LIMA) Exhibition brought together technology and products from the aerospace industries. LIMA is now established as one of the major airshows in the world and it is a biennial event.