# 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.

## Incumbent political figures
### 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, 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