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 (Jun 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.”
