Speak up to denounce violent ideologies: Shanmugam

SINGAPORE — Following the recent arrest of Singaporean Zulfikar Shariff for terrorism-related activities, Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam said on Sunday (July 31) it was important that more Singaporeans speak up to denounce violent ideologies.

“Whenever there’s an attack around the world, or in the region, you have the religious leadership speaking up, you have the political leadership speaking up, you have the community leadership speaking up, and I think that’s good,” he said. “But I think the average person in the street needs to speak up, put it out there publicly, that this is wrong, this is unacceptable, I think we need to see that. It’s important for us as Singaporeans, both for the Muslims and non-Muslims. For the Muslims, to assert that this is wrong, and for the non-Muslims to say it, and that will build greater confidence.”

Mr Shanmugam, speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the opening of a dialysis centre, added that although Zulfikar has Australian citizenship, he is still a Singapore citizen and will be treated as such. CHANNEL NEWSASIA