Manikam Pillai
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Manikam Vasagam Pillai MBE (last name sometimes spelt Pillay) was a Fiji Indian lawyer, football administrator, and politician. He was a supporter of the Alliance Party[1] and in the 1968 by-elections contested the Nadi Indian Communal seat against Dr A. D. Patel, the leader of the Federation Party, but lost by 7903 votes to 2772.[2] He later served as Attorney General of Fiji from 1981 to 1984.[3] He then became Chairman of the Fiji Law Reform Commission, serving till 1987.[citation needed]
Manikam Vasigam Pillai | |
|---|---|
| 24th Attorney General of Fiji | |
| In office 1981–1984 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor General | Ratu Sir George Cakobau |
| Prime Minister | Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara |
| Preceded by | Andrew Deoki |
| Succeeded by | Qoriniasi Bale |
| 2nd Chairman, Fiji Law Reform Commission | |
| In office 1984–1987 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor General | Ratu Sir George Cakobau |
| Prime Minister | Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara |
| Preceded by | K. A. Stuart |
| Succeeded by | Vacant Next held by Daniel Fatiaki 1994-1995 |
| Senator of Fiji | |
| In office 1981–1984 | |
| Appointed by | Prime Minister of Fiji |
| President of the Senate | Robert Munro Wesley M. Barrett |
| Personal details | |
| Citizenship | Fijian |
| Party | Alliance Party |
| Occupation | Lawyer, Sports administrator |
Career
Pillay was President of the Fiji Football Association from 1962 to 1965, and again from 1967 to 1983.[4] He opened Govind Park in July 1976.[5] Associates remembered him as a polite and unflappable person, who rarely spoke during negotiations, except to propose a compromise (which was usually accepted) to break a deadlock.[6]
On 13 June 1980, Pillai was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his services to the community.[7] He died in the late 1980s or early 1990s.[8]