An ancient Chinese proverb describes the challenge facing the authorities dealing with terrorists: dao gao yi chi, mo gao yi zhang.

It means: as virtue rises one foot, vice rises 10; while the priest climbs a foot, the devil climbs 10.

The same could be said for terrorism. In this lethal cat and mouse game, the security authorities need a mindset change, fresh strategies and new partners to anticipate the unknown and prepare to cushion the blows that will be felt when a terrorist strike occurs.

For tiny Singapore, the challenge of keeping the nation secure in the face of terrorist threats remains critical. Experts say our security authorities can build on a strong record of achievements – but it remains an uphill task, as terrorists are constantly evolving and strike when they spot gaps in security measures.

… While ISD officers used the intelligence gathered to smash JI operations here, analysts at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies identified trends in terrorism and highlighted early warning signs of a potential attack.

To tackle deviant Islamic teachings, Muslim clerics spent hours with detainees at ISD’s Whitley Road Detention Centre, counselling prisoners on the correct interpretation of Islam.

… Security expert Kumar Ramakrishna says some military strategists fear a new kind of warfare in which “super-empowered” lone wolves may in the coming decade exploit digital technology to mount crippling cyber attacks on national infrastructure.

If cyber terrorists succeed in attacking linked computer networks for waste water and drinking water, they could pump waste water into reservoirs. They could kill if they crack computer codes that connect wireless devices in a hospital’s digital system, such as pacemakers and insulin pumps.