Philip Golingai

Kuala Lumpur

Journalist at The Star (Malaysia)

The Star journalist.

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Articles

Gnashing teeth and munching leaves

5 days ago | thestar.com.my | Philip Golingai

IF BERSATU were to exist during the Mesozoic Era, its president, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, would be a Therizinosaurus. In contrast, its deputy president, Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, would be a Tyrannosaurus Rex, or popularly known as the T-Rex. A Therizinosaurus, which had long claws on its front feet, was a herbivore, while the T-Rex, which had long, sharp teeth, was a carnivore. The Therizinosaurus was slightly taller than the T-Rex, although it was longer and heavier than its counterpart.
Supporting the new norm of a marriage of convenience

1 week ago | asianews.network | Philip Golingai

April 14, 2025PETALING JAYA – IS the Ayer Kuning by-election a crucial test to determine whether Pakatan Harapan voters still believe in the coalition’s “marriage” with Umno? Is it a testing ground to determine whether the Malays in Perak remain loyal to Umno?
Supporting the new norm of a marriage of convenience

1 week ago | thestar.com.my | Philip Golingai

IS the Ayer Kuning by-election a crucial test to determine whether Pakatan Harapan voters still believe in the coalition’s “marriage” with Umno? Is it a testing ground to determine whether the Malays in Perak remain loyal to Umno? Yesterday, nominations closed, and three candidates are vying to be the assemblyman of this state seat in Perak: Barisan Nasional’s Dr Mohamad Yusri Bakir of Umno, Perikatan Nasional’s Abd Muhaimin Malek of PAS, and Parti Sosialis Malaysia’s (PSM) KS Bawani.
Political fallout from disasters

2 weeks ago | thestar.com.my | Philip Golingai

“IS there any political fallout from the Putra Heights gas pipeline blast?” a politician asked over the phone on Wednesday. “As far as what I’ve monitored, none,” I replied. Already a subscriber? Log in. Save 30% and win Bosch appliances! More Info Billed as RM9.73 for the 1st month then RM13.90 thereafters. RM12.33/monthRM8.63/month Billed as RM103.60 for the 1st year then RM148 thereafters. Free Trial For new subscribers only Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal.
The strange ways of democracy

3 weeks ago | thestar.com.my | Philip Golingai

THE basic assumption is that if there are two coalitions – say Madani vs Perikatan Nasional – and voters are unhappy with both, they’ll vote for a third force in a by-election. But politics does not work that way. In past elections, the third force, which logically is Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM), has been trampled in the fight between two elephants.
Riding the political roller coaster

1 month ago | thestar.com.my | Philip Golingai

THE other day, I had an entertaining dinner chat with Melaka’s “bad boy politician” Datuk Seri Idris Haron. The former Melaka chief minister and I had a curry fish head meal with politicians, businessmen, and technocrats in a famous seafood restaurant in Kota Kinabalu. Already a subscriber? Log in. Save 30% and win Bosch appliances! More Info Billed as RM9.73 for the 1st month then RM13.90 thereafters. RM12.33/monthRM8.63/month Billed as RM103.60 for the 1st year then RM148 thereafters.
People will believe what they want to believe

1 month ago | thestar.com.my | Philip Golingai

IN Malaysia, there is a trust deficit in the authorities. Or we love conspiracy theories. Or both. Over the last few days, I have been chatting face-to-face or via text with politicians, family members, and friends about a strange subject. Already a subscriber? Log in. Save 30% and win Bosch appliances! More Info Billed as RM9.73 for the 1st month then RM13.90 thereafters. RM12.33/monthRM8.63/month Billed as RM103.60 for the 1st year then RM148 thereafters.
What lies beneath

1 month ago | thestar.com.my | Philip Golingai

TWO Saturdays ago, I travelled beyond my Kota Kinabalu bubble to engage in some political tourism up north in Sabah. It is an election year in my home state, and I wanted to get a feel for the politics of seats in the Kudat and Kota Marudu parliamentary constituencies. Nothing beats going on the ground to get a real picture.
Can a Spirit of 2025 emerge in Sabah?

1 month ago | thestar.com.my | Philip Golingai

IT was truly a David versus Goliath tale when a 46-day-old party defeated the mighty Berjaya, which had ruled Sabah for nine years. The sentiment that swept Parti Bersatu Sabah into power came to be called the Spirit of 1985. Growing up as a teenager in Kota Kinabalu in the 1980s, I felt that sentiment. Back then, my bulu roma kembang (I got goosebumps) when PBS founder Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan spoke at any ceramah. He was the icon of the Spirit of 1985.
Sabah’s messy politics

2 months ago | thestar.com.my | Philip Golingai

“ITU Jeffrey Kitingan (that’s Jeffrey Kitingan).”I overheard someone saying this the other day when I was in a lounge at KL International Airport. Already a subscriber? Log in. Save 30% for ads-free and full access now! Billed as RM9.73 for the 1st month then RM13.90 thereafters. RM12.33/monthRM8.63/month Billed as RM103.60 for the 1st year then RM148 thereafters. Free Trial For new subscribers only Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app.