Batam-based religious radio station Radio Hang “strongly rejects” and opposes radical ideologies, terrorism and the Islamic State terror group, it said in a statement to Channel NewsAsia on Saturday (Aug 20).

Speaking to the Batam Pos, the radio station’s manager refuted claims that it promotes radical messages, and encourages acts of violence as well. The station’s manager also added that it is impossible to do so, because Radio Hang is monitored by the Broadcast Commission of Indonesia.

In response to its statement, Singapore’s Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) reiterated that Radio Hang sometimes features speakers who preach extremist views. On Friday, MHA said two Singaporeans detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) became radicalised after listening to the radio station.

On its Facebook page, Radio Hang describes itself as an Islamic station that preaches the message of Islam. Its reach extends to Singapore and Malaysia over the airwaves, and can be streamed online as well.

… However terrorism expert from the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Graham Ong-Webb said blocking the station is a short-term measure. “It works against us in the long term to put in information controls because what we need is more information, not less,” he said.