1941 in Malaya

Incumbent political figures

Central level (until February 1942)

• Governor of Federated of Malay States :
• * Shenton Whitelegge Thomas
• Federal Secretaries of the Federated of Malay States :
• * Hugh Fraser
• Governor of Straits Settlements :
• * Shenton Whitelegge Thomas

  State level (until February 1942)

• Perlis :
• * Raja of Perlis : Syed Alwi Syed Saffi Jamalullail
• Johore :
• * Sultan of Johor : Sultan Ibrahim Al-Masyhur
• Kedah :
• * Sultan of Kedah : Abdul Hamid Halim Shah
• Kelantan :
• * Sultan of Kelantan : Sultan Ismail Sultan Muhammad IV
• Trengganu :
• * Sultan of Trengganu : Sulaiman Badrul Alam Shah
• Selangor :
• * British Residents of Selangor : G. M. Kidd
• * Sultan of Selangor : Sultan Sir Hishamuddin Alam Shah Al-Haj
• Penang :
• * Monarchs : King George VI
• * Residents-Councillors : Arthur Mitchell Goodman
• Malacca :
• * Monarchs : King George VI
• * Residents-Councillors :
• Negri Sembilan :
• * British Residents of Negri Sembilan : John Vincent Cowgill
• * Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan : Tuanku Abdul Rahman ibni Almarhum Tuanku Muhammad
• Pahang :
• * British Residents of Pahang : C. C. Brown
• * Sultan of Pahang : Sultan Abu Bakar
• Perak :
• * British Residents of Perak : Marcus Rex
• * Sultan of Perak : Sultan Abdul Aziz Al-Mutasim Billah Shah Ibni Almarhum Raja Muda Musa I

  Events

• 8 December – WW2: Imperial Japanese Army landings at Pak Amat Beach, Kota Bharu. This marked the official start of the Japanese occupation of Malaya.
• 8–11 December – WW2: Operation Krochol
• 9 December – WW2: Sungai Petani, Butterworth and Alor Star airport were captured by the Imperial Japanese Army.
• 10 December – WW2: The British battleship Prince of Wales and battlecruiser Repulse were sunk by Japanese aircraft after relying on false intelligence as to the location of the landings.
• 11–13 December – WW2: Battle of Jitra
• 14–16 December – WW2: Battle of Gurun
• 18 December – WW2: Malayan Peoples's Anti Japanese Army founded.
• 30 December – WW2: Starting Battle of Kampar until 2 January 1942.
• Unknown date – Construction of India House completed.

  Births

• 30 January – Ahmad Kamal Abdullah – Writer and National Sasterawan
• 20 February – Lim Kit Siang – Democratic Action Party politician
• 1 March – Laila Taib – Wife to former Chief Minister of Sarawak, :ms:Abdul Taib Mahmud|Abdul Taib Mahmud
• 22 June – Ariffin Mohamad @ Ayah Pin – Secterian leader
• 21 September – Syed Hussein Al-Attas – Writer
• 26 September – Raja Jaafar – :ms:Raja Muda Perak|Raja Muda Perak
• 7 October - Leo Moggie Anak Irok – Former Minister of Energy, Communication and Multimedia, Chairman Tenaga Nasional Berhad and Sabah Electricity Sdn Bhd
• 1 November – Ahmad Fairuz Abdul Halim – Former Attorney General of Malaysia
• Unknown date – A. Galak – Actor
• Unknown date – Mohd. Yusof Noor – Politician

  Deaths