Speaking in Parliament in response to a question about Singapore’s threat level following its decision to join in the fight against the Islamic State, DPM Teo Chee Hean said that there is no indication of a heightened threat.
DPM Teo, who is also the Minister for Home Affairs, explained that the overall threat level to every country has been increasing as the violence in Syria and Iraq continues and escalates.
ISIS is still reaching out to and encouraging overseas supporters to carry out attacks on home soil and Singapore is not immune to this, Mr Teo explained.
Singapore recently joined in the fight against the Islamic State and sent personnel to the middle east to join the international coalition there.
Other countries who have pledged their support to the fight have seen terrorism levels in their own countries increase and also see attacks made against their nationals in the middle east.
For example, the current hostage situation involving a Japanese national and the murder of his compatriot was sparked after Japan pledged $200 million to the fight against ISIS.
Similarly, threats were made against the Australian parliament and terrorist operations were planned in Australian cities after Australia sent troops and ammunition to support the fight against the Islamic state.
There were concerns that similar heightened threats may be faced by Singapore should we pledge our support but DPM Teo has explained that there has been no such indication of specific threats to Singapore even though we have also joined the coalition.
He explained that in Singapore, one of the threats is self-radicalisation and “lone-wolf” attacks.
“We have had instances of Singaporeans becoming self-radicalised even before the Syrian conflict. ISIS has, however, worsened the threat through its widespread and effective use of social media to radicalise and recruit foreign fighters and supporters," he said.
He explained that Singapore is working to fight religious extremism and pointed at the East Asia Summit Symposium on Religious Rehabilitation and Social Reintegration being held in April which will share “best practices among participating countries and build capability to counter the terrorists' radical ideology."
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