S’pore seriously considering how to help fight Islamic State: PM Lee

MILAN — Singapore is “seriously considering” how it can be a helpful partner in the fight against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said today (Oct 17). 

Speaking at a retreat at the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting in Milan, Italy, Mr Lee told political leaders from the two regions that Singapore welcomes the formation of a broad international coalition, including the United States and many Arab countries, to combat the terrorist threat. 

He said that, given the complex situation in Iraq and Syria, there is no purely military solution to the problem. However, it is still necessary to contain and weaken the Islamic State, he added.

In recent weeks, a US-led coalition has carried out air strikes against Islamic State targets in Kobane, a Syrian town at the border of Turkey, to push back the militants’ advance.

Mr Lee said Singapore strongly condemns the terrorist actions of the Islamic State and takes the threat posed by the group seriously, as there is a direct implication on the Republic’s security and social cohesion. 

He added that a number of people from South-east Asia had gone to Syria and Iraq to fight for the Islamic State, including at least two Singaporeans.

However, Mr Lee reiterated: “Singa­pore is a multiracial society, with a substantial Muslim minority — 15 per cent of our population. Fortunately, Singaporean Muslims at large actively support religious and racial harmony.

“Our Muslim religious and community leaders have condemned the Islamic State unequivocally, including the Singapore Mufti, who has reminded Muslims not to be influenced by those who arbitrarily call for jihad in the name of Islam.”

The Prime Minister added that the Religious Rehabilitation Group — formed a decade ago after the discovery of Al Qaeda-linked group Jemaah Islamiyah in Singapore — had raised awareness of dangers of the Syrian conflict and debunked misconceptions that fighting in Syria is a form of jihad.

Singapore co-sponsored the recent United Nations Security Council resolution 2178, which requires all nations to adopt laws that will make it a serious crime for their nationals to join extremist groups such as the Islamic State. 

The resolution will go far in cutting financial aid and material support for the group and prevent the movement of foreign terrorist fighters, he said. 

Mr Lee noted that extremist groups are a threat as they can recruit vulnerable individuals with their extremist ideology. “Battle-hardened and radicalised returnees can ... carry out attacks on home soil or collaborate with terrorist groups in our region, such as the Jemaah Islamiyah network and its reincarnations,” he said. 

“The risk is not just direct casualties from a terrorist attack, but also long-term damage to racial and religious harmony.” CHANNEL NEWSASIA