ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti wˈʌn, pˌiːˌɑːɹbˈiː ɹᵻdʒˈɛktᵻd ðə pɹəpˈoʊzəl fɔːɹ mˈɛmbɚʃˌɪp ɪn fˌɛdɚɹˈeɪʃən wɪð məlˈeɪʒə, pɹəpˈoʊzd baɪ məlˈeɪəz pɹˈaɪm mˈɪnɪstɚ, tˈʌŋkuː ˈæbdʊl ɹˈɑːmən ˈiːvən ðˌoʊ ðə ɡˈʌvɚnmənt ʌv bɹuːnˈaɪ wʌz fˈeɪvɚɹəbəl tə ðə fˌɛdɚɹˈeɪʃən.
In 1961, PRB rejected the proposal for membership in federation with Malaysia, proposed by Malaya's Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman even though the government of Brunei was favourable to the federation.