Philip Golingai

Kuala Lumpur

Journalist at The Star (Malaysia)

The Star journalist.

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Articles

Battle heats up for PKR deputy president post

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

IS it a double-edged sword to be the daughter of a Prime Minister and party president when you go for the No.2 post in your political party? Nurul Izzah Anwar, the 44-year-old daughter of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is currently a vice president in PKR; she will take on incumbent deputy president Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, 47, in the party polls on May 23. Already a subscriber? Log in. Subscribe now and receive free sooka plan for 1 month. T&C applies.
Deputy president post up for grabs?

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

ECONOMY Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli and a minister aligned with him were absent from the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, sparking speculation that he had quit his post. It turned out that Rafizi, as explained by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, was on leave for “just a few days off”. But that did not stop the talk that Rafizi, the PKR deputy president, was at odds with Anwar, the PKR president.
Coalition contradictions

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

WHO should lead the country’s Opposition coalition, Perikatan Nasional? Who should lead one of Perikatan’s main drivers, Bersatu? These are important questions because, as we’ve seen in countries around the world, a national Opposition bloc can either have a huge impact on politics, offering strong checks and balances to push the government of the day to work better, or it could splinter into irrelevance. Already a subscriber? Log in.
Gnashing teeth and munching leaves

3 weeks 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 month 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 month 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

1 month 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

1 month 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

2 months 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.