1956 in Malaya

This article lists important figures and events in Malayan public affairs during the year 1956, together with births and deaths of significant Malayans.

Central level

 * Governor of Malaya :
 * Donald Charles MacGillivray
 * Chief Minister Federation of Malaya :
 * Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj

State level

 * Perlis :
 * Raja of Perlis : Syed Harun Putra Jamalullail
 * Menteri Besar of Perlis : Raja Ahmad Raja Endut
 * Johore :
 * Sultan of Johor : Sultan Ibrahim Al-Masyhur
 * Menteri Besar of Johor : Wan Idris Ibrahim
 * Kedah :
 * Sultan of Kedah : Sultan Badlishah
 * Menteri Besar of Kedah : Tunku Ismail Tunku Yahya
 * Kelantan :
 * Sultan of Kelantan : Sultan Ibrahim
 * Menteri Besar of Kelantan : Tengku Muhammad Hamzah Raja Muda Long Zainal Abidin
 * Terengganu :
 * Sultan of Terengganu : Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah
 * Menteri Besar of Terengganu : Raja Kamaruddin Idris
 * Selangor :
 * Sultan of Selangor : Sultan Sir Hishamuddin Alam Shah Al-Haj
 * Menteri Besar of Selangor : Raja Uda Raja Muhammad
 * Penang :
 * Monarchs : Queen Elizabeth II
 * Residents-Commissioner : Robert Porter Bingham
 * Malacca :
 * Monarchs : Queen Elizabeth II
 * Residents-Commissioner : Maurice John Hawyard (Acting)
 * Negri Sembilan :
 * Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan : Tuanku Abdul Rahman ibni Almarhum Tuanku Muhammad
 * Menteri Besar Negeri Sembilan : Shamsuddin Naim
 * Pahang :
 * Sultan of Pahang : Sultan Abu Bakar
 * Menteri Besar of Pahang : Tengku Mohamad Sultan Ahmad
 * Perak :
 * British Adviser of Perak : Ian Blelloch (until unknown date, position abolished)
 * Sultan of Perak : Sultan Yusuf Izzuddin Shah
 * Menteri Besar of Perak : Abdul Wahab Toh Muda Abdul Aziz

Events

 * 8 February – The Treaty of London 1956 was signed to set up the independent Federation of Malaya
 * 20 February – Tunku Abdul Rahman announced in Malacca Town after he returned from London that Malaya would become independent on 31 August 1957.
 * March – The Rural and Industrial Development Authority (RIDA) Training Centre (Dewan Latehan RIDA) was established.
 * March – Reid Commission is established for drafting the Constitution of the Federation of Malaya.
 * 22 June – Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka was established as Balai Pustaka in Johor Bahru.
 * 22 June – Pipeline ambush.
 * 1 July – The Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA) was established.
 * 24 October – Malayan Party was established by Tan Gee Gak.
 * 22 November-8 December – Malaya competed for the first time in 1956 Olympic Games at Melbourne, Australia. 32 competitors, 31 men and 1 woman, took part in 13 events in 5 sports.
 * Unknown date – Catholic High School, Malaysia in Petaling Jaya is founded by Rev. Bro. Philippe Wu of the Marist Brothers.
 * Unknown date – Catholic High School, Malaysia in Petaling Jaya is founded by Rev. Bro. Philippe Wu of the Marist Brothers.

Births

 * 1 January – Mona Fandey – Singer and witchcraft involved in murdering Mazlan Idris in 1993 (died by hanging 2001)
 * 8 February – Raja Iskandar Dzulkarnain – Raja Di-Hilir Perak
 * 2 May – Mohamad bin Hasan – Politician
 * 10 July – K. Rajagopal – Coach and footballer
 * 11 September – Mohd Hatta Ramli – Politician
 * 2 November – Arif Shah Omar Shah – Politician
 * 15 November – Ong Ka Ting – Politician
 * 27 November – Sultan Nazrin Muizuddin Shah – 35th Sultan of Perak
 * Unknown date – Louisa Chong – Actor

Deaths

 * January 22 – Tun Yusuf
 * August 26 – Yeung Kwo – Deputy Secretary General of the Malayan Communist Party