This article lists important figures and events in Malaysian public affairs during the year 2002, together with births and deaths of notable Malaysians.
19 April – About fourteen more suspected hardcore Kumpulan Militan Malaysia members, including a woman, are arrested under the Internal Security Act, bringing the number of KMM members held since May 2001 to 62.[5]
8 August – Judge Datuk James Foong of the Kuala Lumpur High Court, Wisma Denmark, Jalan Ampang, decides that seven out of the ten people being sued by 60 residents, relatives and families of the Highland Towers tragedy were negligent.[11]
4 December – Arab-Malaysian Finance Bhd appeales to Court of Appeal President Tan Sri Lamin Yunus to meet with Court of Appeal Judge Datuk Mokhtar Sidin and Datuk Mohd Saari Yusoff on compensation to be paid to victims of the Highland Towers collapse.[13] At the Court of Appeal, three judges led by Datuk Gopal Sri Ram with Datuk Richard Malanjum and Datuk Wira Ghazali Mohd Yusoff order three negligent parties to pay damages – Ampang Jaya Municipal Council 15%, engineer Wong Yuen Kean 10%, Arab-Malaysian 30%, Metrolux Sdn Bhd and MBF Property Services Sdn Bhd 20%.[14][15]
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.