View source for M. G. G. Pillai

{{Short description|Malaysian journalist}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2014}}
'''M. G. G. Pillai''' (1939 – 28 April 2006) was a [[Malaysia]]n [[journalism|journalist]] and political [[activist]]. He was one of the country's pioneers in [[Internet]]-based journalism and activism.<ref name="star">{{cite web| title = Journalist MGG Pillai dies of a cardiac arrest| publisher = thestar.com.my| date = 29 April 2006| url = http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/4/29/nation/14100739&sec=nation| accessdate = 24 April 2007| url-status = dead| archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20110521053409/http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=%2F2006%2F4%2F29%2Fnation%2F14100739&sec=nation| archivedate = 21 May 2011| df = dmy-all}}</ref> His parents were immigrants from [[Kerala]], [[India]]. His great maternal uncle, [[Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai]] was a celebrated Malayalam novelist. True to the matrilineal tradition of the [[Nair]] caste, he had a reverential relationship with Thakazhi. Thakazhi in turn was proud of his nephew's journalistic pursuits. M. G. G. Pillai was married to P.C. Jayasree. They have two sons, Sreekant Pillai and Sreejit Pillai.
== Background and career ==
A [[Johor Bahru]]-born [[Malaysian Indian]] of [[Malayalee]] descent,<ref name="nieman">{{cite web|title=Nieman Notes |publisher=nieman.harvard.edu |date=Spring 2006 |url=http://www.nieman.harvard.edu/reports/06-2NRsummer/p105-0602-classnotes.html |accessdate=24 April 2007 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070716042453/http://www.nieman.harvard.edu/reports/06-2NRsummer/p105-0602-classnotes.html |archivedate=16 July 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> he studied in [[English College Johore Bahru]], and later studied [[law]] at the [[University of Singapore]]. He started his career in journalism in the 1960s as a [[Reuters]] [[correspondent]], and covered the [[Vietnam War]] in 1965.<ref name = "nieman"/><ref name="harakah">{{cite web| last = Hassan| first = M.R.| language = Malay| title = PAS rakam takziah kepada keluarga MGG Pillai| publisher = harakahdaily.net| date = 28 April 2006| url = http://www.harakahdaily.net/bm/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2058&Itemid=28| accessdate = 24 April 2007}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In 1967, Pillai had a brief stint in [[Bernama]] before joining the ''[[Malay Mail]]'' and covered the [[May 13 Incident|13 May riots]] for the newspaper in 1969. He joined the then newly established ''[[Singapore Herald]]'' in 1970 but left after the [[government of Singapore]] refused to renew his [[work permit]].<ref name = "nieman"/>
Upon returning to Malaysia, Pillai began [[freelancing]] for the ''[[Far Eastern Economic Review]] (FEER)''. By then, Pillai was also a [[Stringer (journalism)|stringer]] for the [[India]]n [[newspaper]] ''[[Hindustan Times]]''. Besides writing for ''FEER'', Pillai also contributed to ''[[Newsweek]]'' as a stringer and co-founded the defunct [[news magazine]] ''[[Asiaweek]]''.<ref name = "nieman"/> In 1977, Pillai became the first Malaysian to receive a [[scholarship|fellowship]] from the [[Nieman Foundation for Journalism]], which offered him a chance for further study in journalism at [[Harvard University]].<ref name = "nieman"/>
== Journalistic style ==
Pillai was well known for his straight-talking, no-holds-barred style of reporting and commentary, which resulted in brushes with authority. He had been forbidden from entering [[Singapore]] since 1990 after one of his reports roused the anger of top government officials.<ref name = "star"/><ref name = "harakah"/> While [[politicians]] may have reviled him in public for his hard-hitting, anti-establishment views, privately many maintained good personal relations with Pillai, to the extent he became a confidant to politicians in both the government and the opposition.
== Contribution to Malaysian journalism ==
Pillai was a regular contributor to pro-opposition publications, such as the official mouthpiece of the [[Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS)|Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party]] (PAS), ''[[Harakah (newspapaer)|Harakah]]'', independent online news and commentary portals ''[[Malaysia Today]]'' and ''[[Malaysiakini]]''. He was one of the first Malaysian journalists to see the potential of the internet; he founded a [[mailing list]]-based [[Portal:Current events|current affairs]] discussion forum, ''Sang Kancil'' (''"The [[Mouse deer|Mouse Deer]]"'') and mggpillai.com, his self-titled but now-[[wikt:Defunct|defunct]] news and commentary website. He rose to national prominence during the heyday of the ''[[Reformasi (Malaysia)|Reformasi]]'' ("Reform") movement, which blossomed following the sacking of the then [[Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia|Deputy Prime Minister]] [[Anwar Ibrahim|Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim]] in 1998. His internet-based commentaries and reporting were at the forefront in chronicling the political turmoil amid a time when the internet was in its infancy in Malaysia.
== Death ==
Pillai died on 28 April 2006 at the [[University of Malaya]] Medical Centre, [[Kuala Lumpur]], due to [[heart]]-related complications.<ref name = "star"/>
==Notes and references==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060515070803/http://marhaen.kelatedaily.net/mar_a_marhaintua_khas01.html M. G. G. Pillai Dalam Kenangan (Malay)]  (An obituary for M. G. G. Pillai by an anonymous Malaysian political activist)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060908040223/http://www.nieman.harvard.edu//people/classphotos/class77.html M. G. G. Pillai's Nieman Foundation 1977 fellowship class photo]
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[[Category:1939 births]]
[[Category:2006 deaths]]
[[Category:Malaysian Hindus]]
[[Category:Malaysian journalists]]
[[Category:Malaysian people of Indian descent]]
[[Category:Malaysian people of Malayali descent]]
[[Category:Malaysian writers]]
[[Category:Nieman Fellows]]
[[Category:People from Johor Bahru|M. G. G. Pillai]]
[[Category:20th-century journalists]]