Noting that national security and public safety comes above individual privacy, ordinary Singaporeans and terrorism experts TODAY spoke to backed the Government’s plans for more pervasive CCTV coverage across the island, saying it is a necessary and timely step in the current security climate.

Members of Parliament (MPs) added that beyond enhancing the infrastructure, instilling a security consciousness in individuals and private stakeholders, such as building owners, is crucial in the overall counter-terrorism strategy.

… Associate Professor Kumar Ramakrishna of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) said: “In other countries, their people have the first-hand experience of going through terrorists attacks and they have that sense of vulnerability. Singapore has not experienced terrorist attacks in decades, so paradoxically, it is going to be harder for the authorities (to shift mindsets).”

Research analyst Nur Diyanah Anwar of RSIS added: “These (community) efforts to counter terrorism have to be ground-up and organic so that people will be able to identify with them and see the need to be involved.”