1959 in Malaya
This article lists important figures and events in Malayan public affairs during the year 1959, together with births and deaths of significant Malayans.
Incumbent political figures
Federal level
- Yang di-Pertuan Agong: Tuanku Abdul Rahman of Negeri Sembilan
- Raja Permaisuri Agong: Tuanku Kurshiah of Negeri Sembilan
- Prime Minister: Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj
- Deputy Prime Minister: Datuk Abdul Razak
State level
- Sultan of Johor:
- *Sultan Ibrahim
- *Sultan Ismail
- Sultan of Kedah: Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah
- Sultan of Kelantan: Sultan Ibrahim
- Raja of Perlis: Tuanku Syed Putra
- Sultan of Perak: Sultan Yusuf Izzuddin Shah
- Sultan of Pahang: Sultan Abu Bakar
- Sultan of Selangor: Sultan Hisamuddin Alam Shah
- Sultan of Terengganu: Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah
- Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan: Tengku Munawir
- Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Penang: Raja Tun Uda
- Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Malacca: Tun Leong Yew Koh
Events
- January – La Salle School, Petaling Jaya was established by De La Salle Brothers.
- 26 January – The Central Bank of Malaya was founded.
- 19 February – The Election Offences Ordinance 1959 was enacted.
- 20 February – Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah was installed as Sultan of Kedah
- 11 March – The Malayan Federation Royal Police Memorial Monument at Police Training Academy Kuala Lumpur was officialized.
- 1 April – The Prevention of Crime Act 1959 was enacted.
- 24 April – The last meeting of the Federal Legislative Council before being replaced by the Malayan Parliament.
- 1 May – The Immigration Ordinance 1959 was enacted.
- 8 May – Sultan Ibrahim Al-Masyhur of Johor died at the age of 86 in London, England. His body was brought back to Johor and laid to rest at Mahmoodiah Royal Mausoleum, Johor Bahru. His son, Tunku Ismail was proclaimed as the 23rd Sultan of Johor and 3rd in the modern Sultan of Johor.
- 19 August – The 1959 General Elections was held for the first time since independence on 31 August 1957.
- 12 September – The first Malayan Parliament was opened by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
- 12–17 December – Malaya competed at the first edition of the SEA Games in 1959 Southeast Asian Peninsular Games held in Bangkok, Thailand. The Malayan team won 8 gold medals, 15 silver medals, 11 bronze medal and ranked overall at third place.
- Unknown date – Pahang FA was founded.
Sports
- 18–26 April – 1959 AFC Youth Championship
Births
- 6 January – Adnan Abu Hassan – Composer and musician
- 5 February – Azhar Mansor – First Malaysian sailoring around the world
- 3 March – Kamarlin Ombi – Politician
- 11 April – Md Sirat Abu – Politician
- 7 May – Jamal Abdillah – Singer
- 19 May – Harun Salim Bachik – Actor
- 13 July – Fuziah Salleh – Politician
- 15 July – Ellron Alfred Angin – Politician
- 30 July – Al-Sultan Abdullah ibni Sultan Ahmad Shah – 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia
- 14 August – Raja Zarith Sofiah – Permaisuri of Johor
- 15 September – Bung Mokhtar Radin – Politician
- 4 October – Nashrudin Elias – Singer and musician
- 14 October – Husam Musa – Politician
- 4 November – Zainal Abidin Mohamad – Singer
- 3 December – Jemilah Mahmood – Physician, humanitarian activist and founder of Mercy Malaysia
- 13 December – Imuda – Actor and comedian
- 19 December – Ebby Saiful – Singer, actor
Deaths
- 6 March – Siew Mah – The MNLA Commander who lead during the Assassination of Sir Henry Gurney
- 8 May – Sultan Ibrahim of Johor
- 22 August – William George Maxwell – British Resident of Perak