Dorm operator starts scheme to steer migrant workers away from extremism

SINGAPORE — Following the recent arrests of radicalised Bangladeshi workers for terrorism-related activities, one dormitory operator here has come up with an initiative to reach out to migrant labourers and help them steer clear of deviant religious teachings.

Mini Environment Service (MES Group) will be launching its Community Engagement and Religious Guidance (Cerg) programme tomorrow, targetting about 200 Bangladeshi workers staying in its dormitories. It will first be conducted at the MES Group’s dormitory in Kaki Bukit, before being rolled out at its three other dormitories in the western part of the island.

Through a series of talks conducted in the workers’ native language, the programme seeks to engage the workers and get them to guide their peers who may be influenced, or are on the verge of being influenced, by extremist teachings. A brochure for the programme, for example, warns the workers to “be careful of being influenced by individuals or joining any ad hoc groups”, and points out that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) has “abused the religion”. It also provides contact details of the Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG) and the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis), which the workers can approach if they have any questions “on Isis or the caliphate”.

Apart from MES Group, the initiative involves four other organisations including RRG, Singapore Kadayanallur Muslim League, Muslim Youth Ambassadors of Peace, and Jamiyah Singapore. It is also supported by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Muis.

Mr Yusof Lateef, director of corporate communications at MES Group, told TODAY: “With the age of the Internet, there is no way to stop them from reading; to know what’s happening around them (and be influenced negatively) … The programme is to tell them right (from) wrong. We should not alienate the foreign workers, but we should embrace them and tell them to focus on their aims of earning a living for their families back home.”

Dr H M Saleem, a vice-president of Jamiyah Singapore, said the objective of the initiative is to “reiterate how Islam emphasises peace and harmony”, and to remind the workers that while they are in Singapore, they have to “respect and strictly adhere to the laws and rules of the country, and should not be distracted” by radical thoughts and activities.

Earlier this year, the MHA announced two rounds of arrests involving radicalised Bangladeshi workers under the Internal Security Act. In all, 35 workers were nabbed. Most recently, eight Bangladeshi workers employed in the construction and marine industries set up the Islamic State in Bangladesh here in March.

When they were arrested in April, they had already drawn up a hit list and raised funds in Singapore to buy firearms to carry out their attacks.

After the first round of arrests announced in January, TODAY had reported how the long working hours make it difficult for migrant workers to seek spiritual sustenance and guidance in a foreign land. As a result, there is a danger of workers being misled, observers said.

RRG co-chairman Ali Mohamed noted that Bangladeshi workers are in a “difficult position”. “Because of the exploits of the few in their community that have involved themselves in such abhorrent activities, the rest of the workers are affected.” The workers, he added, feel confused as to the predicament they are facing as they do not want to be labelled as terrorists. On the Cerg initiative, he said: “The workers can work together with us to reject terrorism. I feel that with RRG’s involvement in the programme, we can help the workers understand the things they should not be doing. And if they have nothing to hide, they shouldn’t isolate themselves from the rest of the community or feel bad about the situation.”

In response to TODAY’s queries, Muis said it is supportive of the ground-up effort by MES as it will help to create greater awareness of the dangers of terrorism and extremism among the foreign workers. “The effort is a step in the right direction in keeping the workers vigilant and alert of suspicious activities that may jeopardise the safety and security of Singapore,” Muis said.