15 January – Nine people are killed and five are seriously injured when an express bus and a trailer lorry collide head-on at the 24th kilometre of the Sarikei-Sibu road (Pan Borneo Highway) during heavy rain.[1]
April – Malaysia Airlines becomes the first airline in the world to pilot a twin-engine commercial jet through the newly opened polar routes, passing through the inhospitable regions of Russia and North Alaska.[3]
This first edition of these games for athletes with physical disabilities is held in Kuala Lumpur. Ten Southeast Asian nations participated at the games. Malaysia won 143 gold medals, 136 silver medals and 92 bronze medals in this edition and emerges overall champion in first place.
Malaysia was only formed on September 16, 1963. Prior to that date, Peninsular Malaysia was known as Malaya, Sarawak under Crown Colony of Sarawak and Kingdom of Sarawak and Sabah under North Borneo.