Singapore
As in previous years, the Internal Security Department (ISD) has assessed the terrorism threat to Singapore as high.[1] In 2024, the threat picture was characterised by a few long-standing trends and new developments. While there were no terrorist attacks or imminent security threats, cases of self-radicalisation persisted in Singapore, with one case described by the authorities as having come the closest to being executed in recent times. International developments such as the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict that has spilled over into other parts of the Middle East as well as threats from extreme right ideologies in the West and other parts of the world, also pose radicalisation risks which could impact Singapore’s national security and social harmony.
Israel-Hamas Conflict
The terrorist threat in Singapore increased following the onset of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, Singapore’s Internal Security Department (ISD) said in its annual report released in July 2024. Terror groups such as the Islamic State (IS) and Al-Qaeda (AQ) have used the conflict to recruit into their ranks, calling on Muslims worldwide to support the Palestinian cause. There has also been an attendant uptick in anti-Singapore sentiments on social media among some regional extremist actors, who perceive Singapore as being pro-Israel.[2]
The Israel-Hamas conflict, which has sparked hate crimes and religiously motivated attacks worldwide, has also led to the radicalisation of some individuals in Singapore in 2024. These cases highlight the potential risk posed by foreign extremist narratives to Singapore’s security and communal harmony. One of the cases involved a 14-year-old boy, who in June became the youngest individual to be issued a Restriction Order under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in Singapore. His detention follows other cases of youth radicalisation in recent years and has led to increased focus from security agencies and the wider community to better identify, deter and rehabilitate radicalised youth.
The Secondary 3 student aspired to fight for a group known as the Black Flag Army (BFA). He took steps to be ready to physically fight for the BFA and planned to work part time to save funds to travel to Afghanistan. If his plan to travel to join the BFA proved unsuccessful, the youth was also willing to carry out terrorist attacks in Singapore on the BFA’s instructions. He also unsuccessfully attempted to radicalise some of his schoolmates.[3] A second self-radicalisation case involved a 33-year-old former public servant. The ISD said that An’nadya binte An’nahari supported a network of militant and terrorist organisations called the Axis of Resistance (AOR) – which comprises groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah and others – and actively participated in several pro-AOR social media groups. In these forums, she supported the AOR and their violent operations. Additionally, An’nadya promoted violence against Jews and Israelis.[4]
Additionally, a 17-year-old youth radicalised by IS propaganda online was detained in August, just weeks before he could carry out a stabbing attack on non-Muslims in various public spaces in the Tampines neighbourhood. The youth had also planned to travel to Syria to fight for IS there. But, given the difficulties in travelling to Syria, he subsequently decided to engage in violence in Singapore and fulfil his aspirations of becoming a martyr. Singapore’s Minister for Home Affairs noted publicly that given the extensive preparation and commitment of the youth, this case contained plans that came closest to being executed compared to previous ones.[5]
Impact of Regional Developments on Singapore
The regional terror group Jemaah Islamiyah (JI)’s announcement in June that it was disbanding received a mixed response across the region. While the announcement was largely welcomed, some observers remain sceptical of the group’s intentions. Regardless, JI’s disbanding may not necessarily suggest a decline in terrorism in the region. Other terrorist groups such as pro-IS networks, along with defected and former members of JI, continue to pose terrorism concerns for Singapore.
In May, an attack at a police station in Ulu Tiram in Johor,[6] just across the Malaysian state’s border with Singapore, led to the killing of two police officers. The attacker’s father had previously been associated with JI, but later influenced the entire family into supporting IS. The close geographical proximity of the attack to Singapore heightened security concerns.[7] Singapore also raised the security alert at the causeway checkpoints following the attack and the ensuing slew of IS-linked arrests in Malaysia.[8]
Political volatility in other neighbouring regions also impacted Singapore’s security. On August 9, Amir Hamza, a Bangladeshi preacher known for his extremist proclivities, entered Singapore using a passport bearing a different name and conducted an illegal sermon at a foreign workers’ dormitory in Tuas. The security authorities stated that while they were aware of the preacher’s background, they did not have his biometric information which would have enabled them to deny him entry into Singapore.[9] His entry and illegal sermon, in which he referred to non-Muslims as infidels, came in the wake of significant political upheaval in Bangladesh following the ouster of the country’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and growing concerns that Bangladesh-based extremist networks may get emboldened amidst the political uncertainty.[10]
Radicalisation and extremist activities in the sizeable diaspora communities in Singapore remain an area of key concern. There are, for example, sizeable Bangladeshi and Indonesian migrant communities in Singapore. The vast majority are law-abiding, although fringe groups have in the past been associated with extremist activities.[11]
The Extreme Right
In the West, the threat from the extreme right has grown in the past few years.[12] Such extremism justifies violence to safeguard ethnic purity or achieve political objectives. There are concerns that extreme-right ideologies are becoming more prominent globally and thus posing an increasingly worrying terror threat across most of the West.[13] While extreme-right ideologies may not have a direct resonance and appeal in the Singapore context, their advocacy of violence risks societal polarisation and deepens communal fault lines, including in the near region.
Vulnerable youth in particular can be influenced by the sense of belonging and identity that extreme-right movements provide.[14] In November 2023, the ISD issued a Restriction Order to a Singaporean teenager of Chinese ethnicity. He identified as a white supremacist and aspired to conduct attacks abroad to further the white supremacist cause.[15] The-16-year old also aspired to commit a mass shooting in the United States (US) in 10 years’ time. This was the second case of a local youth having been self-radicalised by extreme right ideologies, mirroring a wider global trend of the growing participation of non-whites in extreme-right spaces.[16]
Responses
Singapore maintains a combination of ‘hard’ and ‘soft’ measures to prevent radicalisation, deter and disrupt individuals planning violent acts, and counter the proliferation of extremist ideas both online and offline.
A cornerstone of these efforts is the SGSecure national movement. Launched in 2016 and refreshed in 2023, SGSecure adopts a community-centric approach in the ongoing fight against terrorism and extremism.[17] Outreach to schools, workplaces and the wider community is conducted via roadshows, house visits, resilience-building programmes and emergency preparedness exercises, among others.[18] In 2024, in view of the persistent problem of online radicalisation, particularly among youth, SGSecure rolled out several enhanced digital strategies to reach a wider audience and increase public engagement.[19]
The Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG) remains a pillar of Singapore’s counter-ideology and counter-extremism endeavours. A community-based initiative that relies on a network of volunteer Islamic scholars and teachers, the RRG provides counselling and other support to ISA detainees and their families, and conducts public outreach to promote religious moderation and intercommunal tolerance.[20] The RRG released a new counselling manual in 2024 – its fourth such publication – intended as a roadmap for mentors working with at-risk youth.[21] The manual highlights the importance of addressing not only the ideological, but also the psychological, emotional and social factors which contribute to youth radicalisation, through a range of engagement strategies aside from direct ideological confrontation.
The RRG also maintains a regular presence on social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and YouTube, with posts and videos covering various topics such as how youths can protect themselves from online extremism, how to identify signs of radicalisation in loved ones and how to respond to the suffering of others.[22] Moreover, following the illegal sermon at a Tuas dormitory by extremist Bangladeshi preacher Amir Hamza in August 2024, the RRG worked in tandem with the ISD and the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) to carry out a series of engagement sessions with migrant workers to raise awareness of the dangers of the extremist and segregationist teachings propagated by such preachers.[23]
Singapore has also put in place comprehensive legal frameworks and strong regulatory regimes to combat the financing of terrorism. In April 2024, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) debuted a centralised digital platform called Cosmic to facilitate the voluntary sharing of information among banks in Singapore regarding suspicious customers and transactions, in order to mitigate the risks of illicit activities including the financing of terrorism and the financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.[24] In the same month, MAS also amended the Payment Services Act to strengthen regulatory control over digital payment token (DPS) service providers to guard against terrorism financing and money laundering.[25] Additionally, following the release of the latest Terrorism Financing (TF) National Risk Assessment (NRA) report in July 2024, which identified money remittance services as a sector of high vulnerability to terrorism financing, MAS and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced that they would run outreach and education programmes with community partners and migrant worker dormitories to emphasise the importance of using licensed remittance agents for money transfers, as well as step up dialogue with banks on trends in terrorism financing.[26]
Moreover, to streamline immigration processes and enhance border security, in May 2024, automated immigration lanes were introduced at Singapore’s Changi Airport for all foreign travellers entering the country.[27] The new automated system allows the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) to run data analytics and conduct risk assessments on inbound travellers, screening them against a watch list of persons of interest and a biometrics database to flag individuals deemed of higher risk for further checks before entry is allowed or denied.[28]
Meanwhile, the Singapore Police Force (SPF), the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) continue to hold regular joint counter terrorism exercises to test and strengthen operational readiness in the event of a terror attack. In a first, one such drill held in August 2024 was observed by foreign police officers from countries including the US, the Netherlands, Hong Kong and Rwanda.[29] Last year, the MHA also announced plans to build a new operations centre, slated to open in 2032, which will bring together officers from SPF, SCDF, ICA and the Central Narcotics Bureau (CNB) to enable them to respond to threats more quickly and effectively.[30]
Outlook
Although there are no specific or imminent security threats to Singapore at present, the threat from terrorism is likely to remain high given the volatile international environment and the prevalence of self-radicalisation cases. Islamist terrorism continues to pose the greatest security threat to Singapore, particularly in light of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. However, the potential for sentiments and beliefs associated with the extreme right to gain further traction among a fringe of the community also bears watching, given the discord such exclusivist ideologies could sow in the diverse social fabric of Singapore. The steady though small number of cases of self-radicalised individuals detected and detained each year under the ISA also highlights the risks posed by the proliferation of radical content in the digital space, especially among vulnerable youth, and the need for timely and effective interventions on a whole-of-society basis.
About the Authors
Kalicharan Veera Singam and Abigail Leong are Senior Analysts with the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research (ICPVTR), a constituent unit of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore. They can be reached at [email protected] and [email protected], respectively.
Citations
[1] Internal Security Department, Singapore Terrorism Threat Assessment Report 2024 (Singapore: Ministry of Home Affairs, 2024), p. 2, https://www.mha.gov.sg/docs/default-source/default-document-library/sttar-2024.pdf.
[2] Fabian Koh, “Terrorism Threat Elevated Since Renewed Israel-Palestine Conflict; Singapore Also Affected: ISD,” Channel News Asia, July 25, 2024, https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/terrorism-threat-elevated-renewed-israel-palestine-conflict-singapore-also-affected-isd-4503686.
[3] Fabian Koh, “Boy, 14, Who Was Radicalised Due to Israel-Hamas Conflict is Youngest to be Dealt With Under ISA,” Channel News Asia, July 15, 2024, https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/boy-14-radicalised-israel-hamas-conflict-youngest-isa-order-former-public-servant-isd-4480301.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Samuel Devaraj, “17-Year-Old Self-Radicalised Singaporean Arrested Weeks Before Planned Attack in Tampines,” The Straits Times, October 18, 2024, https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/17-year-old-self-radicalised-singaporean-arrested-weeks-before-planned-attack-in-tampines.
[6] See Rueben Dass, “Malaysia,” in this volume for more details on the attack.
[7] Fabian Koh, “Singapore an Important Target for Terrorists; Recent Attacks, Arrests in Malaysia a Reminder of Threat: Shanmugam,” Channel News Asia, June 29, 2024, https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/singapore-important-target-terrorists-recent-attacks-arrests-malaysia-reminder-threat-shanmugam-4442771.
[8] “Heightened Security at Singapore Checkpoints Following Attack on Johor Police Station,” Channel News Asia, May 18, 2024, https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/checkpoints-security-travellers-delay-immigration-johor-police-station-attack-jemaah-islamiyah-4346281.
[9] Fabian Koh, “Bangladeshi Preacher Used Passport With Different Name to Enter Singapore to Give Illegal, Extremist Sermon,” Channel News Asia, August 21, 2024, https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/bangladeshi-preacher-amir-hamza-extremism-illegal-sermon-4558811.
[10] See Iftekharul Bashar, “Bangladesh,” in this volume for details on this development.
[11] Lee Min Kok, “27 Radicalised Bangladeshis Arrested in Singapore Under Internal Security Act: MHA,” The Straits Times, April 29, 2016, https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/27-radicalised-bangladeshis-arrested-in-singapore-under-internal-security-act. See also Lydia Lam, “Maid in Singapore Supported Islamic State and Indonesian Affiliate, Jailed for Financing Terrorism,” Channel News Asia, March 5, 2020, https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/maid-singapore-supported-islamic-state-indonesia-terrorism-769736.
[12] See Kalicharan Veera Singam, “Assessing the Extreme Right in the West in 2024,” in this volume for more details on this development.
[13] Nadine Chua, “Terrorism Threat in Singapore Elevated since Israel-Hamas Conflict: ISD,” The Straits Times, July 25, 2024, https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/terrorism-threat-in-singapore-elevated-since-israel-hamas-conflict-isd.
[14] Ibid.
[15] Kalicharan Veera Singam, “Commentary: Why Would a Singaporean Youth Identify as a White Supremacist?” Channel News Asia, January 26, 2024, https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/singapore-youth-far-right-radicalise-white-supremacy-isd-4073716.
[16] Chua, “Terrorism Threat in Singapore.”
[17] “What’s Your Role in Keeping Singapore Safe?” SGSecure, 2024, https://www.sgsecure.gov.sg/whatsyourrole.
[18] Ibid.
[19] These included the launch of the SGSecure Instagram account, with posts created in collaboration with local influencers; an updated SGSecure mobile app, with new functions such as maps to locate emergency facilities; and a music video featuring Singaporean singer-songwriter Nathan Hartono, which highlights the importance of social cohesion both before and in the aftermath of a potential terror attack, See Andrew Wong, “S’pore to Increase Public Engagement on SGSecure Through Digital Strategies: Shanmugam,” The Straits Times, July 27, 2024, https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/s-pore-to-increase-public-engagement-on-sgsecure-through-digital-strategies-shanmugam.
[20] “About RRG,” Religious Rehabilitation Group, 2016, https://www.rrg.sg/about-rrg/.
[21] Wong Pei Ting, “12 Self-Radicalised Singaporean Youth Dealt with Under ISA since 2015,” The Straits Times, May 30, 2024, https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/12-self-radicalised-singaporean-youths-dealt-with-under-isa-since-2015.
[22] Religious Rehabilitation Group, YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/@rrgsingapore/videos; Religious Rehabilitation Group (@rrg_sg), Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/rrg_sg.
[23] Nikhil Khattar and Jalelah Abu Baker, “ISD to Hold Engagement Sessions with Migrant Workers Following Bangladeshi Preacher’s Extremist Sermon,” Channel News Asia, August 26, 2024, https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/bangladeshi-preacher-extemist-sermon-isd-engagement-sessions-migrant-workers-4567566.
[24] Samuel Devaraj and Andrew Wong, “New Digital Platform Allowing Banks to Exchange Information on Suspicious Customers Launched,” The Straits Times, April 3, 2024, https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/new-digital-platform-allowing-banks-to-exchange-information-on-suspicious-customers-launched.
[25] Mia Pei, “MAS Imposes New User Protection Requirements on Digital Payment Token Service Providers,” The Straits Times, April 2, 2024, https://www.straitstimes.com/business/mas-imposes-new-user-protection-requirements-on-digital-payment-token-service-providers.
[26] Andrew Wong, “Remittance Services in Singapore at High Risk of Being Exploited for Terrorism Financing: Report,” The Straits Times, July 1, 2024, https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/courts-crime/remittance-services-in-s-pore-at-high-risk-of-being-exploited-for-terrorism-financing-report.
[27] Christine Tan, “Higher Percentage of Travellers Refused Entry Into Singapore With Automated Lanes,” The Straits Times, September 9, 2024, https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/higher-percentage-of-travellers-refused-entry-into-singapore-with-automated-lanes.
[28] Ibid.
[29] Zaihan Mohamed Yusof, “Police, Together with SAF and SCDF, Hold Terror Attack Drill at One Punggol,” The Straits Times, August 23, 2024, https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/police-hold-annual-terror-attack-exercise-at-one-punggol-celebration-square.
[30] Wong Shiying, “MHA Building New Operations Centre by 2032 for Quicker Incident Response: Shanmugam,” The Straits Times, February 25, 2024, https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/mha-building-new-operations-centre-by-2032-for-quicker-incident-response-shanmugam.
