1948 in Malaya

This article lists important figures and events in Malayan public affairs during the year 1948, together with births and deaths of significant Malayans. Malaya left the British colonial Malayan Union; the Federation of Malaya took place on 1 February.

Incumbent political figures

Central level

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 Johore : Onn Jaafar
Kedah :
* Sultan of Kedah : Sultan Badlishah
* Menteri Besar of Kedah : Mohamad Sheriff Osman
Kelantan :
* Sultan of Kelantan : Sultan Ibrahim
* Menteri Besar of Kelantan : Nik Ahmad Kamil Nik Mahmud
Terengganu :
* Sultan of Terengganu : Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah
* Menteri Besar of Trengganu : Tengku Mohamad Sultan Ahmad
Selangor :
* Sultan of Selangor : Sultan Sir Hishamuddin Alam Shah Al-Haj
* Menteri Besar of Selangor : Hamzah Abdullah
Penang :
* Monarchs : King George VI
* Residents-Commissioner :
** Sydney Noel King
** Arthur Vincent Aston
Malacca :
* Monarchs : King George VI
* Residents-Commissioner : John Falconer
Negri Sembilan :
* Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan : Tuanku Abdul Rahman ibni Almarhum Tuanku Muhammad
* Menteri Besar Negri Sembilan : Abdul Malek Yusuf
Pahang :
* Sultan of Pahang : Sultan Abu Bakar
* Menteri Besar of Pahang : Mahmud Mat
Perak :
* British Adviser of Perak :
** Arthur Vincent Aston
** James Innes Miller
* Sultan of Perak :
** Sultan Abdul Aziz Al-Mutasim Billah Shah Ibni Almarhum Raja Muda Musa I
** Sultan Yussuf Izzuddin Shah
* Menteri Besar of Perak : Abdul Wahab Toh Muda Abdul Aziz

Events

Early 1948 – The British government banned Angkatan Wanita Sedar, together with several other political parties like PKMM and Hisbul Muslimin, accusing them of having connections to the Malayan Communist Party.
1 February – The Federation of Malaya was established, replacing the Malayan Union.
18 February – Keeper of the Rulers' Seal was established.
16 June – Three European estate managers were murdered at Sg. Siput, Perak, which led to the events on 19 June.
19 June – A state of emergency was declared in Malaya following Communist rebellions.
16 July – Leading Communist Party of Malaya member Lau Yew was killed.
1 August – General Operations Force was founded as Jungle Squad.
6 October – Sir Henry Gurney was appointed High Commissioner of Malaya.
12 December – 25 civilians were killed by British soldiers at Batang Kali, Selangor.
December – Kachau Village in Selangor was torched by the British to smoke out Communist guerillas.
Unknown date – The Federal Legislative Council (Malaya) was established as the legislative body of the Federation of Malaya.
Unknown date – The Malayan National Liberation Army was founded.
Unknown date – The Malaysian Red Crescent was founded as branches of the British Red Cross Society.
Unknown date – The Melaka Warrior Monument was completed and unveiled.
Unknown date – The Sedition Act 1948 was enacted.
Unknown date – The Interpretation Acts 1948 was enacted.
Unknown date – Federated Malay States Railways was dissolved and replaced by Malayan Railways.
Unknown date – All-Malaya Council of Joint Action was dissolved.

Births

14 January – Tuanku Muhriz ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir, 11th Yang di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan
17 January – Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, politician
1 February – Mohd Effendi Norwawi, politician
29 February – Khalid Salleh, actor
23 June – Zakri Abdul Hamid, scientist and academician
25 July – Rafeah Buang, singer
28 August – Shaharuddin Abdullah, footballer
19 December – Norlia Ghani, actress

Deaths

26 March – Abdul Aziz al-Mu'tasim Billah Shah of Perak, 31st Sultan of Perak
12 June – Sybil Kathigasu, Eurasian nurse
4 July – Edward Gent, 1st British High Commissioner for Malaya
16 July – Lau Yew, Commander-in-chief of the Malayan People's Anti Japanese Army and prominent member of the Malayan Communist Party
15 November – Cheah Cheang Lim, businessman and miner