The war in Iraq and the outbreak of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (Sars) were the biggest events of 2003. On the domestic front, the retirement of former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad in November and the appoint of his successor Abdullah Ahmad Badawi hogged the limelight.

1) New prime minister

After 22 years, Malaysia witnessed the swearing in of its fifth prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who took over the reigns from his predecessor Dr Mahathir Mohamad on Nov 1.

Staying true to his 'Mr Clean' image, the new premier stressed that his utmost priorities were to weed out corruption and improve education.

Following his caustic speeches against corruption was the proposal to set up a special task force to look into ways of reducing red tape and bureaucracy in government departments. Better yet, the public can even email the prime minister directly about their complaints.

Abdullah also urged Barisan Nasional members to tell him the ' truth ' even if it hurts, in order for the ruling front to resolve the problems faced by the people.

Observers noted that one promising sign in the new administration was the cabinet's decision to shelve the controversy-ridded double-tracking project.

At a mammoth dinner organised by five Chinese-based BN parties recently, the premier pledged that no community would be alienated and the fundamental traits of Malaysia's multiracial society would be preserved.

For a critical assessment of Abdullah's first 50 days in power, read Strategic Analysis Malaysia (only available for malaysiakini 's premium subscribers).

2) PAS Islamic state document

The PAS Islamic state blueprint released in November drew brickbats from every direction including from within the party as well as its ally Parti Keadilan Rakyat .

The document pledged greater democracy in place of the present 'tyranny' and that the federal constitution would be upheld but necessary amendments might be made. It also promised the end of racial, gender and religious discrimination, awarding opportunities and entitlements based on meritocracy, maintaining a two-tier legal system, upholding the right to education and mother-tongue language, and ensuring the rights of women.

Subsequently, DAP ordered its members in Kelantan and Terengganu to resign from any official positions they may hold while another staunch critic MCA refused an invitation to debate the issue.

PAS Youth later welcomed anyone in doubt about the proposed Islamic state to come forward to seek clarification directly from them.

3) Umno Pahang logging scandal

Controversy fell on Umno Pahang this July when it was revealed that the party was awarded a 10,000-acre (approximately 40 sq km) plot of peat swampland near Pekan by the state government in 1998.

A timber company signed an agreement with Umno Pahang in 2000, giving the former exclusive rights to log the area for a paltry sum of RM50,000, which aroused the suspicion of industry experts.

Pahang Menteri Besar and Umno state chief Adnan Yaacob claimed that he was in the dark over the issue, despite the fact that a logging concession agreement was signed during his tenure in 2000.

Further controversies ensued when the Pekan district land office claimed that the land still belonged to the state, and when lawsuits and police reports were filled.

Umno Pahang also failed to fulfil its payment of RM4.8 million in land premium before commencing logging activities, even though satellite photos showed that nearly 60 sq km of land, which encroached onto state reserves, had already been stripped bare.

4) Broga incinerator: The struggle continues

Residents of Broga and Semenyih opposing the proposed 'mega-incinerator' to be built in their vicinity put up a year long struggle against the ambiguities and red tapes surrounding the issue.

The incinerator, described as the biggest of its kind in the world, was initially supposed to be sited in Kampung Bohol, Puchong. However, due to the protest and threats by the residents there, the government backed off and decided the relocate the 1,500-tonne capacity incinerator.

This subsequently gave birth to the No Incinerator Semenyih/Broga committee which continues to fight tooth and nail against the plan. They have organised forums involving scientists and foreign experts. The committee has also sent eight letters to Housing and Local GovernmentMinister Ong Ka Ting which have yet to receive a reply.

The government's advertisement campaign to ' educate ' the public regarding the need for an incinerator drew flak from the committee and the residents. An environment impact assessment for the proposed incinerator was also shot down, especially key components relating to the impact on public health.

5) ISA detainees: some released, more held

In June, the two-year Internal Security Act (ISA) detention orders for six reformasi activists, better known as the 'ISA 6' expired . The six were Keadilan leaders Tian Chua, Mohd Ezam Mohd Noor,

Dr Badrulamin Bahron, Saari Sungib, Lokman Adam and malaysiakini columnist-cum-filmmaker Hishamuddin Rais.

All, except for Mohd Exam were held at the Kamunting Detention Centre in Taiping, Perak. The Keadilan Youth chief was serving a separate jail sentence for breaching the Official Secrets Act.

The six were initially detained for alleged planning to topple the government through militant means, a charge which they have denied.

In November, the ISA was used to detain 13 students who returned to Malaysia, after they were arrested and latter released by Pakistani authorities who accused them of terrorism-related activities.

The students were studying at two universities in Karachi prior to their arrest by authorities there. To date, police here have released four unconditionally, placed four more under restricted residence while the rest have been detained for two years under the security law.

The ISA, which critics say should be abolished, provides for detention without trial. Over the past two years, the government has detained more than 80 alleged Islamic militants under the ISA, a number of them allegedly members of the al-Qaeda-linked Jemaah Islamiah.

6) Education: Still in a mess

In September, it was announced that 100,000 Univerisiti Institut Teknologi Mara (UiTm) students would have to undertake the compulsory ' Thoughts of the Prime Minister ' study, which is based on a book of the same title that contained speeches by former premier Dr Mahathir Mohammad.

Meanwhile, the 'meritocracy' system, which is in its second year running, still drew vast criticism from many corners. Under the system, statistics showed that the number of non-bumiputera students in public universities had significantly reduced.

Medical students also refuted the Education Minister Musa Mohamad's claim that entry to the faculty in University Malaya was based on meritocracy.

Allegations of political intervention reared its ugly head again during this year's campus polls. Students also cried foul over raids carried out by the university authorities in an attempt to weed out those who were 'anti-establishment'.

The government's plan for Malaysians between the ages of 16 and 35 to undergo a maximum 90-day national service training in order to create a 'patriotic and resilient' nation has drawn flak from some quarters. The RM500 million programme will kick off next February.

7) Police 'brutality': More deaths

There have been at least 11 custodial deaths reported this year and calls for compulsory inquest into the deaths have been largely ignored . The questionable circumstances surrounding the death of Ho Kwai See was one of many cases shrouded with red tape and inconsistencies.

The killing of 19-year-old student V Vikines in a shootout in October further cemented the allegation by critics that the police is trigger happy.

Vikines and two others Puvaneswaran, 24, and T Kathiravan, 25, were accused of being responsible for a spate of armed robberies.

However, a friend of Vikines claimed that his death was suspicious as the deceased's shirt was unscathed although he sustained two gunshot wounds. He also alleged that Vikines had bruise marks on his face, legs and back.

8) Ill-treatment of foreign workers, refugees

In March, more than 150 Indian nationals were arrested at a condominium in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur and held for more than 10 hours while police "checked" their documents. The detainees, who were mostly IT professionals, claimed that they were abused, harassed and had their documents defaced, stirring India into a string of retaliatory measures.

In August, the police had arrested more than 200 Acehnese who were en route to register themselves with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Subsequently, many of those arrested were deported .

9) Irene Fernandez trial

In what was dubbed the longest trial ever in Malaysian legal history, human rights activist Irene Fernandez was eventually convicted in October for maliciously publishing false news, and sentenced to 12 months' jail.

It began in March 18, 1996 when Fernandez was arrested at her home and was charged with violating the Printing Press and Publishing act, for her part in publishing a memorandum entitled 'Abuse, torture and dehumanised treatment and deaths of migrant workers at detention camps' in 1995, alleging abuse in immigration detention camps nationwide.

The activist was also slapped with a travel ban . She currently awaits an appeal hearing at the high court.

Her conviction drew harsh protest and condemnation both domestically and abroad .

10) Controversial railway bid

The controversial double-tracking rail project, the country's biggest infrastructure project, came to an anti-climax in December when the government decided to halt work temporarily.

Malaysian Mining Corp (MMC) owned by tycoon Syed Mokhtar Albukhary and Gamuda Bhd were awarded the contract for the RM14.45 billion project - days before former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad stepped down - which forms part of an ambitious trans-Asia link from Singapore to China.

MMC and Gamuda managed to outbid Indian Railway Construction Co (Ircon) and China Railway sparking protest from the Indian and Chinese governments as the project was supposed to be a government-to-government initiative.

Currently, a portion of contractors who were involved in the construction of the Ipoh-Rawang stretched of railways that had already been double-tracked and electrified, have demanded long overdue payments for their services and goods provided.