Thamboosamy Pillai and the Colonial Elite of British Malaya

Abstract:Thamboosamy Pillai (1850–1902), a Tamil-origin elite member of Kuala Lumpur's colonial society from the 1870s until 1902, is a long-marginalized figure in Malaysian historiography. Despite his public commemoration in the form of a statue at the Batu Caves in recognition of his role in establishing a temple there, and in the naming of a school after him—Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Thamboosamy Pillai at Sentul—he is hardly mentioned in Malaysian historiography. That Pillai is overlooked in historical scholarship illustrates ongoing shortcomings in attempts to write an inclusive history of Malaysia. It also blurs the picture of how colonialism worked on the ground through elitism, as Pillai represented a critical sociopolitical contact not only for Kuala Lumpur's overall economic and social governance, but also for the continued cooperation between capitalist and colonial elites. This articles makes an attempt to reclaim Pillai as an early pioneer of Kuala Lumpur through analyzing his role in establishing colonial administration and enterprise in Malaya.