CHRONOLOGY - Malaysia, fifty years of independence

REUTERS - Malaysia marks 50 years of independence from British rule on Friday.

Here is a timeline of key events since independence:

* Aug. 31, 1957: The Federation of Malaya is granted independence from Britain after close to 50 years of colonial rule. Tunku Abdul Rahman becomes the first prime minister.

* Sept. 16, 1963: Federation of Malaysia is formed by Malaya, and neighbouring Sabah (North Borneo), Sarawak and Singapore.

* Aug. 9, 1965: Singapore quits the federation following a disagreement between the leaders of the two states on Chinese communities, leaving Malaysia with 13 states.

* May 14, 1969: A state of emergency is declared and the constitution suspended following violent anti-Chinese rioting.

* Sept. 21, 1970: Tunku Abdul Rahman resigns. Tun Abdul Razak, his chosen successor, is sworn in the following day.

* 1971: Razak's pro-Malay affirmative action policy, the New Economic Policy (NEP), introduced after national soul-searching blames the Malay-Chinese wealth gap for 1969's violent riots.

* Jan. 14, 1976: Tun Abdul Razak dies. Hussein Onn becomes prime minister on Jan. 15.