 He served Malaya from 1954 until 1957.After celebrating Malaya's independence (Hari Merdeka), MacGillivray was accompanied by the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong of Malaya and his consort, together with Malaya's first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman to board the plane in Sungai Besi Airport.MacGillivray also served as the Chairman of the State Council of British Colony of Kenya, which has five European and six Non-European members.