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Singapore must remain alert to trends that could disrupt harmony: DPM Teo

SINGAPORE — Singapore must remain alert to forces that could take root and disrupt social cohesion and communal harmony, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said today (May 23).

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean. TODAY file photo

Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean. TODAY file photo

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SINGAPORE — Singapore must remain alert to forces that could take root and disrupt social cohesion and communal harmony, Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean said today (May 23).

Speaking at the National Community Engagement Programme (CEP) Dialogue, Mr Teo said while diversity has been a strength for Singapore, it can also be a vulnerability if not managed well.

He noted that Singapore has always been a society with people of diverse backgrounds and there are new groups who can press their point of view vigorously and sometimes intemperately, in a confrontational manner.

“The resurgence of radicalisation and violence based on extreme interpretations of religion is another cause for concern,” added Mr Teo, who is also the Minister for Home Affairs and the Coordinating Minister for National Security. He cited groups like the Islamic State (IS) that have used online media to radicalise and recruit foreign fighters worldwide.

IS has produced recruitment videos in local languages like Bahasa Indonesia, and it has called on overseas supporters to carry out attacks in their own countries.

With the spread of social media, “anonymity and amplification on the internet can allow an irresponsible or even untrue remark to go viral in a matter of seconds and quickly stir up deep racial and religious racial sensitivities. Once stirred up, they are very difficult to rein in again,” he said.

“THE DAY AFTER”

Mr Teo added that besides building and sustaining trust between communities, Singapore must also strengthen social resilience and be able to respond to what happens “the day after” in the event of an attack.

“Despite our best efforts, we cannot guarantee that a terrorist attack will never take place in Singapore. The attacks in Sydney, Paris and Copenhagen took place even though these countries and these cities were already on high security alert,” he said.

“The main objective of a terrorist attack is to divide society and strike fear. How Singaporeans respond should an attack occur is therefore vital in order to prevent terrorists from achieving these two objectives,” he added, citing the example of Sydney where Australians responded positively to the hashtag “#illridewithyou” and refused to let the actions of one person divide society.

Mr Teo said community leaders must show solidarity and help calm tensions that may arise after an incident, and promised the Government would continue to provide training support to help community leaders play this role.

“If an incident were to happen in Singapore, we must pull together as one people, one community, and one Singapore,” he said.

Today’s dialogue was attended by about 550 grassroots, community and student leaders. CHANNEL NEWSASIA

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