Najib Razak introduced the 1Malaysia campaign in 2009 and later announced the repeal of the Internal Security Act 1960, replacing it with the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012. However, his tenure witnessed significant challenges, including the incursion in Lahad Datu in 2013 by militants sent by a claimant to the Sultanate of Sulu's throne. Malaysian security forces swiftly responded, leading to the establishment of the Eastern Sabah Security Command. The period also saw tragedies with Malaysia Airlines, as Flight 370 disappeared in 2014, and Flight 17 was shot down over Eastern Ukraine later that year.

Najib's administration faced significant controversies, particularly the 1MDB corruption scandal, where he and other officials were implicated in embezzlement and money laundering related to a state-owned investment fund. This scandal triggered widespread protests, leading to the Malaysian Citizens' Declaration and the Bersih movement's rallies demanding electoral reforms, clean governance, and human rights. In response to corruption allegations, Najib made several political moves, including removing his deputy prime minister, introducing a controversial security bill, and making significant subsidy cuts, which affected living costs and the Malaysian ringgit's value.

The relationship between Malaysia and North Korea soured in 2017 following the assassination of Kim Jong-nam on Malaysian soil. This incident garnered international attention and resulted in a significant diplomatic rift between the two nations.