MGG.Pillai - a champion on free and unmolested journalistic freedom....

How I wished to see MGG.Pillai had lived on to see the aftermath of the March 8th 2008, 12th. General Election. I think Mr.Pillai would be the first person to post a thought-provoking missals on the net to celebrates the opposition success.

In one of MGG.Pillai commentary view he wrote, "In Malaysia, a middle class man united the people against the government. But the sacked deputy prime minister, Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim, could not do it alone. The government, then led by Tun Mahathir Mohamed, could not contain the demonstrations that resulted and used force to break them up. But the middle class leaders went back when Tun Mahathir resigned. UMNO under Pak Lah, who took over, got the biggest majority ever in the general elections of 2004. Datuk Seri Anwar and his men now is not sure he will see the support of those days".

"What frightens the National Front and its component parties, including UMNO, is that the races in this country are being organised by the middle class away from the National Front. There is already talk of the National Front parties moving away from UMNO should it lead a losing coalition. I am now able to talk with members of the government party whether they would be in it should it lose the next elections. In the past, I would have been shown the door. A revolution is taking place in Malaysia, but it is not violent or public. The middle class, up to now the first beneficiaries of the government's largesse, is now not sure it is to their benefit if it supported the government. On that will depend the future of the National Front, and politics in this country". (The National Front has no hope if it cannot retain the support of the middle class - 13/4/2006)

He predicted right and it was the middle class that changed our political landscape that paved the way for opposition success in the 12th General Election. Wilayah Persekutuan, for example, where the middle class folks forms the bulk of its electorate - made up mainly of civil servant,business class, corporate leaders etc,etc.,with a multi-racial background, saw the emergence of Pakatan Rakyat, a cooperation between the three parties,namely PKR,PAS and DAP bagging 10 out 11 seats. If not for the postal votes, the 11th seat of Setiawangsa too will also be swept away by the opposition surged.

If Mr.Pillai was still around, I yearn that to see how he sees politics unfolding in our nation today, notably with the Lingam video tape episode, the on-going Altantuya's murder case ,the Chua Sooi Lek's sex scandal, Najib's billion dollar arms deals, the murky Balkis Selangor controversy etc, etc, and wonder what will his comments be? Remember, nobody quite writes like MGG. Pillai.

He was one of the greatest believers that Anwar Ibrahim would one day return to the political arena, and how right he was. It will be only a matter of time that we will see Anwar sitting face-face with Pat Lah or probably assuming Pat Lah's role.

I had never met Mr.Pillai before, though I used to adore his writings from way back in the 70's and 80's. However, we do exchange notes via emails occasionally. In one of his email he invited me over a cup of teh tarik in Brickfields but I couldnt make it. I really regretted for missing that golden opportunity, to meet such a great man called MGG.Pillai.

This is the second anniversary of MGG.Pillai’s passing away. His lost was greatly felt by both his friends,foes and the cyber communities alike. I was never a writer before, but was inspired by MGG.Pillai's idealism, beliefs, a hero on free and unmolested journalistic freedom and his style of expression of the oppressed had captivated me.

Thanks MGG.Pillai, I missed you, my dear friend, rest in peace and you were always on my mind.....

And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in
And I would have liked to have known you
But I was just a kid
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did

(from Elton John's "Candle In The Wind")

cheers.