Abstract

This seminar examines the intricate and concerning connections between Jolo in the Southern Philippines, Sabah in Malaysia, and Sulawesi in Indonesia within the context of terrorism and cross-border kidnappings. In particular, Sabah’s role as a transit point or temporary haven for terrorists travelling from Indonesia to the Philippines is assessed, along with Jolo’s notoriety as a primary location where hostages abducted from Sabah are held. More broadly, recent terrorism related developments in the Southern Philippines and Peninsula Malaysia are also explored. A better understanding of these interconnected dynamics is crucial for developing effective counter-terrorism and security strategies in the region.

About the Speaker

Philip Golingai, an award-winning journalist, is a senior news editor at Star Media Group based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. From 2006 to 2010, he was The Star’s Thailand correspondent based in Bangkok. He was also the editor of Asia News Network (ANN), an alliance of 24 Asian news organisations in 20 countries. He was also the industry advisor for the Department of Journalism, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR) from 2016 to 2019 and 2022 to 2023.