Even though Singapore has different religions, different races and different languages, its people respect each other while making sure there is common space for everyone.

Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said this to about 300 Institute of Technical Education (ITE) students at a forum on the dangers of extremism on Saturday (Aug 11).

Mr Muhammad Faizal Abdul Rahman from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies’ Centre of Excellence for National Security told The Straits Times that online radicalisation facilitates extremism, both religiously and non-religiously motivated.

“Hence, counter-radicalisation will always be a work in progress especially for highly globalised and multicultural societies such as Singapore,” he said.

Besides improving online algorithms and improving people’s digital literacy, he said: “We need to delegitimise extremist ideas by showing how Singaporean values are more humane and just.”