The PPP was mooted by the Seenivasagam brothers and was formed in 1953 with the blessings of the Perak Menteri Besar,  Datuk Bukit Gantang, Dato Onn Jaafar  and the British Administrators to participate in the political future of the impending independence of Malaya. The first President elected was Dr  S Kanapathy Pillai  with Mr DR Seenivasagam and SP Seenivasagam as Office Bearers on the 10th Jan 1953 at 3pm. The party also  formed the first political party in Negeri Sembilan on the 12^th Jan 1953 witnessed by the Menteri Besar, Dato Hj Abdul Malek.  PPP officially received it’s Party registration on the 10^th April 1953 from the Registrar of Societies. It was the first multiracial party with a simple creed, to work for the uplift of the weak and downtrodden and to fight for their rights and privileges. It was and still is hailed today as the party for the small man where membership and public support is more important than a cash balance. The party took a keen interest in Public matters and expressed its views honestly and fearlessly from the day of its formation.

In 1954 PPP won a seat in the Ipoh Town Council. PPP or Perak Progressive Party was a premier member of the Alliance when it was formed in 1954, but resigned from the Alliance in 1955 over disagreements with the other 2 members, UMNO and MCA over the unfair allocation of seats as stated by its new Secretary Mr DR Seenivasagam. PPP decided to remain as an opposition party  to the Alliance.

In 1956, to reflect a national image, the party's name was changed to People's Progressive Party. In 1957 D R Seenivasagam won the by-election for the Ipoh Parliamentary seat and became PPP's first Member of Parliament. In 1959 PPP won 4 parliamentary and 8 state assembly seats in the General Elections.

In 1960 PPP won 1 more Parliamentary seat making it 5 MPs in parliament. PPP consolidated its position in Ipoh and turned Ipoh Municipality into an exemplary model of local administration that was even praised by the government of the day under the Alliance . In 1964 PPP won 4 parliamentary and 6 state seats in the General Elections. In 1969 Party President and prime mover, D R Seenivasagam passed away and the leadership of the party was taken over by co-founder S P Seenivasagam. Despite the change of leadership, PPP went on to win 4 parliamentary seats and 12 state assembly seats in the 1969 General Election.

The opportunity to form the Perak State Government slipped away due to a shortage of 2 seats when its member crossed to UMNO and the Alliance. In 1972 PPP made a milestone decision to join the Barisan Nasional. A decision that would cost the party dearly with the electorate that preferred it in the Opposition. The decision to join UMNO in a State Alliance government was based on the belief that for the country to achieve political, social and economic stability, parochial and narrow party interests must be given up for a national multi racial outlook. In 1974 PPP contested under Barisan Nasional symbol as a founder member and won 1 parliamentary and 2 state seats in the General Elections. The electorate had spoken. In 1975 Party President Dato' Seri S P Seenivasagam passes away and Mr Khong Kok Yet becomes President. In 1978 Mr. S I Rajah is elected President and then began a period of great instability and infighting that’s taken through the  legal systems of Malaysia which finally  results in the relegation of the party to just a mere destitute passenger within the Barisan Nasional.

In Oct 10 1993 Mr M Kayveas takes over the party reigns and works to rebuild the PPP from scratch. Today after 15 years under the stable leadership of Y Bhg Datuk M Kayveas, the party has been rejuvenated with a membership of more than 500,000 members spread out all over the states of Malaysia including Sabah and Sarawak.  All members are registered in a network of over 3000 branches throughout the country and all members carry a party card personally signed by the President, whereas the President's card is signed by the Secretary General. The party still maintains it's multiracial roots and has adopted the slogan “Bersuara Bersama Komuniti” which literally translates to Voice with the Community. The PPP continues to promote it's original creed to work for the uplift of the weak and downtrodden and to fight for their rights and privileges by voicing out on Public matters and expressing it's views honestly and fearlessly for the betterment of the Community.