THE community should be aware of the threat of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) and take preventive measures, said Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Masagos Zulkifli.

He urged parents, for example, to watch for signs of radicalisation in their children and report them early to the authorities so that they can be counselled.

“The Government’s role is to ensure that our borders are secure, there is racial harmony and that we do not become a society that hates each other,” added Mr Masagos, who was speaking to the media after the launch of the Global Security Asia conference and exhibition yesterday.

“But everyone has a part… We would like the community to be involved, be our eyes, our ears.”

…Conference chair Rohan Gunaratna, a professor of security studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, said: “ISIS presents the most dominant terrorist threat to Singapore and the region.

“Its ability to radicalise and militarise individuals anywhere in the world is growing. Singapore will have to work with regional partners, primarily Malaysia and Indonesia, to reduce the threat.”