SINGAPORE – Singapore remains “a very important target” for terrorists, and the recent attacks and arrests in Malaysia show the need to be “very alert” to such threats, said Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam on Friday (June 28).

Speaking to the media at the Civil Service Club in Tessensohn Road, Mr Shanmugam said that due to the proximity of both countries, whatever happens across the Causeway will have an impact on Singapore, too.

The threat is even greater with the prevalence of the Islamic State’s (Isis) violent ideology in the region, along with the ability of attackers to carry out attacks using easily available items, he said.

While there are currently no specific threats picked up in Singapore, everyone should still stay vigilant to any dangers that may arise, he added. 

Mr Shanmugam's comments come after eight people were arrested last weekend by the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) for alleged links to the Isis group.

Simultaneous operations were carried out across four states, with six men and two women, aged between 25 and 70, detained.

Investigations revealed threats against Malaysia’s King, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, dignitaries and senior police force officials, Malaysia’s Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said at a press conference on Monday. 

REGIONAL THREAT

Mr Shanmugam said that the Malaysian Special Branch’s actions against terrorism suspects help “significantly mitigate the threat to Singapore and the region”.

“Our security is closely linked to Malaysia’s security. Due to proximity, what happens in Malaysia will have an impact on our security landscape,” he said.

He cited the example of Singapore’s past experience with the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) terror group.

Back in December 2001, the Internal Security Department (ISD) thwarted attacks on locations in Singapore, including Yishun MRT Station and key military installations like the Ministry of Defence Headquarters at Bukit Gombak. 

After the first wave of arrests here, JI members regrouped in Malaysia.

“They wanted to plan retaliatory attacks against Singapore,” said Mr Shanmugam. “We remain a very important target for terrorists.”

Mr Shanmugam said that the violent ideology of Isis “continues to resonate in this region, and is fueled by a virtual network of supporters”.

“Extremist narratives have radicalised many individuals, including here in Singapore. As long as these ideologies persist, it will continue to inspire attacks,” he said.

The ISD makes regular assessments on the threat level in Singapore, said Mr Shanmugam.

“We make regular assessments – the ISD makes regular assessments – and what has happened is something that has to be factored in (our assessments), but I won’t say that it has come as a big shock,” he said, of the impact the two recent incidents in Malaysia have had on the threat assessment in Singapore.

“If you look around the region, Isis ideology is prevalent in many countries, and this must be seen in that context.”

Mr Shanmugam also noted that attackers can now use easily available items, such as knives, to carry out attacks. “We have seen this around the world,” he said, also citing the example of attackers using cars to run down pedestrians.

He noted that in last month’s Ulu Tiram police station attack, a machete was used, another example of a readily available item that can be used for such purposes.

Last month, Malaysia police conducted numerous arrests after an attack on a police station in Ulu Tiram, on the outskirts of Johor Bahru, which killed two police officers and left one injured.

The attack in the early hours of May 17 was carried out by a 21-year-old, who was killed in an ensuing firefight.

Mr Shanmugam noted that the attacker, Radin Luqman, had gone with a bag of metal sheets and other objects, like a bulletproof vest across his chest. This meant that the “brazen attack” was likely “pre-planned and pre-prepared”, he said.

The attacker’s father and brother are reported to be Isis supporters and the attack was likely Isis-inspired, said Mr Shanmugam.

Notably, the father, Radin Imran, was previously associated with the JI group, and is said to have shifted towards supporting Isis and radicalising his family members, said Mr Shanmugam.

“Radin Imran also had four homemade air rifles in his residence. It is a possible indication that the family could have been planning for more attacks to be carried out,” he said.

SECURING SINGAPORE

Mr Shanmugam said that amid such threats, Singapore adopts measures to ensure its security, especially as it faces increasing cross-border movement.

“We now have more than 460,000 travellers crossing every day between Singapore and Malaysia through the two Causeways, in addition to other forms of travel,” he said.

On Friday, the two countries marked the 100th anniversary of the Johor-Singapore Causeway, one of the busiest border crossings in the world.

The Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link project is also set to be completed by end-2026.

Mr Shanmugam said that the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) conducts checks at the borders. “So sometimes when the checks take some time, people have to understand that this is a matter of security and is serious.”

Singapore also has very close cooperation and intelligence sharing with a variety of foreign partners, including the Malaysian Special Branch, something which Mr Shanmugam said is “very important to deal with current and emerging threats”.

While there are currently no specific threats picked up in Singapore, Mr Shanmugam noted that the ISD has picked up 50 self-radicalised individuals since 2015. A total of 38 Singaporeans and 12 foreigners have been issued with orders under the Internal Security Act, he said.

“But if we go back, since 2015 – we have a zero-tolerance policy – we move in very early, we don’t wait for the threat to materialise, or about to materialise, and we don’t take chances,” said Mr Shanmugam.

He said that the government agencies, ISD and the police will do their best to detect and prevent any terrorist attack here.

“But we need everyone in society to play their part: To be vigilant, to look out for suspicious behaviour and activities, take part and enrol in SGSecure, if you find anything, report them to the authorities,” said Mr Shanmugam. CNA