This article lists important figures and events in Malaysian public affairs during the year 1987, together with births and deaths of notable Malaysians.

• Yang di-Pertuan Agong: Sultan Iskandar
• Raja Permaisuri Agong: Sultanah Zanariah
• Prime Minister: Dato' Sri Dr Mahathir Mohamad
• Deputy Prime Minister: Dato' Ghafar Baba
• Lord President: Mohamed Salleh Abas

• Sultan of Johor: Tunku Ibrahim Ismail (Regent)
• Sultan of Kedah: Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah
• Sultan of Kelantan: Sultan Ismail Petra
• Raja of Perlis: Tuanku Syed Putra
• Sultan of Perak: Sultan Azlan Shah (Deputy Yang di-Pertuan Agong)
• Sultan of Pahang: Sultan Ahmad Shah
• Sultan of Selangor: Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah
• Sultan of Terengganu: Sultan Mahmud Al-Muktafi Billah Shah
• Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negeri Sembilan: Tuanku Jaafar
• Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Penang: Tun Dr Awang Hassan
• Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Malacca: Tun Syed Ahmad Al-Haj bin Syed Mahmud Shahabuddin
• Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Sarawak: Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce Mohammed Noor
• Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Sabah:
  • Tun Mohd Adnan Robert (Until November)
  • Tun Said Keruak (From November)

• 1 January – Jabatan Telekom (Telecommunication Department) was incorporated as Syarikat Telekom Malaysia Berhad (STM).
• February – The Carcosa was returned to the Government of Malaysia and renamed "Carcosa Seri Negara".
• 9 March – During the Ming Court political crisis of Sarawak, 27 out of the 48 state assemblymen suddenly announced their support for Abdul Rahman Ya'kub while calling Abdul Taib Mahmud to resign as chief minister.
• 12 April – The murder of Ang May Hong happened in Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• 16 April – Abdul Taib Mahmud won the Sarawak state election after the Ming Court crisis.
• June – Menara Maybank or Maybank Tower became the tallest building in Kuala Lumpur.
• July – Opening of the Petronas petroleum and gas refinery in Kerteh, Terengganu.
• September – 1987 World Silat Championships.
• 1 October – The closed-toll system came into force along the Kuala Lumpur–Ayer Keroh and Ipoh–Changkat Jering expressways.
• 15 October – Malaysian Airline System (MAS) changed its corporate identity and became known as Malaysia Airlines.
• 28 October – The hatchback version of the Proton Saga "Aeroback" was launched.

• 3 August – Aidil Zafuan – Footballer^[1]
• 18 September – Tan Boon Heong – Badminton player

• 14 December – Roseyatimah – Malay film actress

• 1987
• 1986 in Malaysia | 1988 in Malaysia
• History of Malaysia