← 1939 1938 1937 1940 in Malaya → 1941 1942 1943
Decades:	1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s
See also:	Other events of 1940 History of Malaysia  • Timeline  • Years

This article lists important figures and events in the public affairs of British Malaya during the year 1940, together with births and deaths of prominent Malayans.

Incumbent political figures

Central level

• • Monarch : King George VI
• High Commissioner to the Malay States :
  • Shenton Whitelegge Thomas
• Federal Secretary of the Federated of Malay States :
  • Hugh Fraser
• Governor of Straits Settlements :
  • Shenton Whitelegge Thomas

State level

Straits Settlements

• Penang :
  • Residents-Councillors : Arthur Mitchell Goodman
• Malacca :
  • Residents-Councillors :

Federated Malay States

• Selangor :
  • British Residents of Selangor : G. M. Kidd
  • Sultan of Selangor : Sultan Sir Hishamuddin Alam Shah Al-Haj
• 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

Other states

• 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

Events

• 25 October – Chinese High School was established in Batu Pahat, Johor.^[1]
• Unknown date – Kinta Rubber Works, the first manufacturer of rubber products in Malaysia was established in Ipoh, Perak.^[2]
• Unknown date – Lam Eng Rubber (M) company, a Malaysian manufacturer of natural rubber, was founded.^[3]
• Unknown date – Malaysian Nature Society was founded.^[4]
• Unknown date – The Board of Commissioners of Currency, Malaya printed an issue of paper money with denominations of one, five and ten dollars; the colours of these banknotes were green, blue, and purple, respectively.^[5]

Births

• 11 March – Haron Din – Politician (died 2016)
• 28 June – Karpal Singh – Malaysian politician and lawyer (died 2014)
• 29 July – Mohamad Aziz – Politician
• 17 August – Joseph Pairin Kitingan – Former 7th Chief Minister of Sabah
• 15 September – Abu Hassan Omar – 12th Menteri Besar Selangor^[6]
• 24 December – Endon Mahmood – Wife to former Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (died 2005)
• Unknown date – Asmah Haji Omar – Writer
• Unknown date – Wan Chik Daud – Actor