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ESM Goh urges Singaporeans to remain vigilant against terror; build trust in community

SINGAPORE — Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong has urged Singaporeans to remain vigilant against any possible terror attack, while adding that it is important to build trust with one another.

The terror threat to Singapore is “medium, rather than low”, said Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong on Sunday (Nov 26). Photo: Ooi Boon Keong/TODAY

The terror threat to Singapore is “medium, rather than low”, said Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong on Sunday (Nov 26). Photo: Ooi Boon Keong/TODAY

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SINGAPORE — Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong has urged Singaporeans to remain vigilant against any possible terror attack, while adding that it is important to build trust with one another.

Speaking at the Marine Parade Emergency Preparedness (EP) Day on Sunday (Nov 26), he said the fight against terror is not just the work of the authorities.

It is "everyone's responsibility" to keep Singapore safe and secure, he stated.

“If something happens … we … help one another because we are all Singaporeans, regardless of race or religion,” said Mr Goh.

“This will happen only because there is trust between us.”

He added: “Whatever the threat may be to Singapore, we should be prepared, be vigilant (and) build up bonds.”

Around 500 residents watched a mock terror attack simulating a gun and bomb assault on Sunday. They also picked up skills such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, how to use a fire extinguisher, as well as improvised first aid skills.

The EP Day is organised by the People’s Association to build a community of citizens prepared to respond to emergency situations, such a terror attack.

Mr Goh also said during the event that his personal assessment of the terror threat facing Singapore is “medium”.

He said militants have always had a presence in the region. Even before the threat posed by Islamic State (IS), there was already the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), an extremist Islamic group based in the region, he added.

He noted that there have been cases of self-radicalised Singaporeans.

Earlier this month, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced that three radicalised Singaporeans have been arrested under the Internal Security Act between September and November for engaging in terrorism-related activities.

One of those arrested was a member of JI. The arrest of Abu Thalha Samad, a 25-year-old Singaporean member of the group, has put JI under renewed scrutiny — even though the high-profile IS has been getting more attention in recent years.

While efforts to dismantle the regional networks of JI have met with some success, the terrorist group is slowly consolidating support and beefing up its militant wing, on the brink of emerging as a threat again, analysts have cautioned.

In October, Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen said seven times more Singaporeans were radicalised in the past year than the period before that.

Mr Goh, who is also a member of parliament for Marine Parade GRC, also highlighted reports of militants in Batam intending to launch rocket attacks on Singapore last year.

“It did not happen, but they were planning to,” he recounted.

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