The entry ban on citizens of seven Muslim-majority countries ordered by United States President Donald Trump — and the ensuing public disagreement involving the former Acting Attorney-General — has many consequences, including leading Muslims around the world to become anti-US, warned Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam on Wednesday (Feb 1).

Speaking at a symposium centering on religion, conflict and peace-building — where other former regional leaders also criticised Mr Trump’s actions — Mr Shanmugam, who was initially not slated to speak, said the events could also lead to change in perceptions of the US.

“One of the consequences of everything that is happening, including the debate and the characterisations, and sometimes the caricatures – (it) could lead to Muslims around the world, some of them becoming more anti-American. Believing that the US has become more Islamophobic. And that has serious risks for a lot of people, including us. We have to watch this carefully,” Mr Shanmugam said.

… The 3rd SRP Distinguished Lecture and Symposium was organised by the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. SRP stands for the Studies in Inter-religious Relations in Plural Societies Programme.