1961 in Malaya

This article lists important figures and events in Malayan public affairs during the year 1961, together with births and deaths of significant Malayans.

Federal level

 * Yang di-Pertuan Agong: Tuanku Syed Putra of Perlis
 * Raja Permaisuri Agong: Tengku Budriah of Perlis
 * Prime Minister: Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj
 * Deputy Prime Minister: Datuk Abdul Razak

State level

 * Sultan of Johor: Sultan Ismail
 * Sultan of Kedah: Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah
 * Sultan of Kelantan: Sultan Yahya Petra
 * Raja of Perlis: Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin (Regent)
 * Sultan of Perak: Sultan Yusuf Izzuddin Shah
 * Sultan of Pahang: Sultan Abu Bakar
 * Sultan of Selangor: Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah
 * Sultan of Terengganu: Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah (Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong)
 * Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan: Tuanku Munawir
 * Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Penang: Raja Tun Uda
 * Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Malacca: Tun Leong Yew Koh


 * (Source: Malaysian Department of Informations)

Events

 * 4 January – Tuanku Syed Putra of Perlis was installed as the third Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
 * 20 February – Tunku Abdul Rahman planned to form a new federation called Malaysia with the merger of Malaya, Singapore, Sabah, Brunei, and Sarawak.
 * 9 March – The International Quran Reading Competition was held for the first time.
 * 17 April – Tuanku Munawir of Negeri Sembilan was installed as the ninth Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan
 * 1 May – A landslide occurred in Ringlet, Cameron Highlands, Pahang.
 * 28 June – Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah was crowned as the 8th Sultan of Selangor.
 * July – The Control of Supplies Act 1961 was enacted.
 * 17 July – Sultan Yahya Petra was crowned as the Sultan of Kelantan.
 * 13 August – The construction of Malacca State Legislative Assembly in Malacca City, Malacca.
 * 21 September – The Kidnapping Act 1961 was enacted.
 * 30 October–18 November – The 13th Meeting of the Colombo Plan Consultative Committee was held in Kuala Lumpur.
 * November – Actor and singers, P. Ramlee marries Singapore-born actor and singer, Saloma.

Births

 * 1 January – Zulkifli b. Omar – Jeneral of commissioner prison
 * 9 January – Zahidi Zainul Abidin – Politician
 * 22 January – P. Kalimuthu (Bentong Kali) – Criminal (died 1993)
 * 15 February – Mr. Os – Actor and comedian (died 2016)
 * 6 May – Suhaili Abdul Rahman – Businessman
 * 19 May – Sabree Fadzil – Actor
 * 5 August – Hishammuddin Hussein – Politician and minister
 * 31 August – Saleem (singer) – Singer
 * 6 September – Francissca Peter – Singer
 * 9 November – Zainal Abidin Hassan – Footballer
 * 24 November – Takiyuddin Hassan – Politician
 * 25 November – Salih Yaacob – Actor and comedian
 * Unknown date – Mokhzani Mahathir – Politician and businessman
 * Unknown date – Sabri Yunus – Actor and comedian