Spike in ISA arrests a reminder of threat

The Straits Times

21 December 2016

It is an oft-repeated line by leaders here: Singapore is not immune from the threat of terror.

And the past few years have made that bleak reality clearer than ever, serving as a stark reminder that radical teachings have found a foothold despite decades of tending to social cohesion here.

The number of terror-linked arrests in Singapore has reached new heights, with 58 people nabbed under the Internal Security Act (ISA) since January last year.

While the majority were two groups of radicalised Bangladeshi nationals working here, the past two years also saw 18 radicalised Singaporeans arrested – a sharp rise from the 11 nabbed between 2007 and 2014.

Most were self-radicalised, such as car washer Rosli Hamzah and truck driver Mohamed Omar Mahadi, who were listeners of Radio Hang FM, a Batam-based religious station that features extreme preachers. The duo had planned to fight in Syria.

…Mr Remy Mahzam, associate research fellow at the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, said Singapore must be wary of developments regarding issues of identity and religion in the region. These may ignite tension and fault lines can be exploited by extremists looking to sow chaos and discord.

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