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SINGAPORE - Cyberspace is a new variable in the racial and religious field, said Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean yesterday.
He explained that the Internet allows irresponsible, offensive and at times seditious comments about other races and religions to be made anonymously.
Mr Teo, who is also Coordinating Minister for National Security, was speaking at the 10th-anniversary celebration of the Internal Security Department's (ISD's) Heritage Centre in Onraet Road yesterday morning.
He said: "Whether intended as a deliberate attack against another community or not, the end result is equally dangerous.
"The Internet enables these dangerous remarks to go viral very quickly."
This can potentially spiral out of control and rapidly damage inter-communal relations, said Mr Teo, who is also Minister for Home Affairs.
"If transposed into action in the physical world, the consequences can be dire," he added.
In his speech, Mr Teo also emphasised the importance of remaining vigilant against threats to the country's internal security, such as online and self radicalisation. These, he said, have led individuals to tie up with terrorist groups or become lone-wolf terrorists.
He warned that, while terrorism may have been a well-reported threat in the past decade, "threats of espionage and foreign subversion are just as salient today as during the Cold War".
He explained that, while Singapore has been able to access new technology and is plugged into geopolitical developments, it also makes the country an attractive target for espionage and foreign subversion.
The ISD Heritage Centre, Mr Teo said, has played an important role in raising security awareness following the Sept 11 attacks in the United States.
For instance, it has reached out to civil servants, grassroots leaders and leaders of the different racial and religious groups here. Staff at the airport, seaports and hotels and taxi drivers have also been enlisted as "eyes and ears" on the ground.
Mr Teo pointed out that the centre has also supported efforts to nurture the next generation of religious leaders "so that they better appreciate the sensitivities and complexities of race and religion in Singapore".
He identified students as a "key constituent" of the centre, which was originally conceptualised as an in-house training facility for ISD officers. This is because the cases highlighted in the centre serve as "a treasure trove of valuable lessons that they can draw from".
Mr Teo also announced that, over the next two years, the Education Ministry will work with the centre to reach out to all students in primary and secondary schools, as well as junior colleges, through roving exhibitions. These exhibitions have already been rolled out to about 20 schools.
In addition, the facility has also organised more than 50 exhibitions in public places, such as community clubs and shopping centres.
The event yesterday also marked the opening of the Counter-Terrorism Gallery at the centre. It features two main components, depicting Singapore's past experiences with terrorism, as well as an extensive showcase on the Jemaah Islamiah terrorist network.
He explained that the Internet allows irresponsible, offensive and at times seditious comments about other races and religions to be made anonymously.
Mr Teo, who is also Coordinating Minister for National Security, was speaking at the 10th-anniversary celebration of the Internal Security Department's (ISD's) Heritage Centre in Onraet Road yesterday morning.
He said: "Whether intended as a deliberate attack against another community or not, the end result is equally dangerous.
"The Internet enables these dangerous remarks to go viral very quickly."
This can potentially spiral out of control and rapidly damage inter-communal relations, said Mr Teo, who is also Minister for Home Affairs.
"If transposed into action in the physical world, the consequences can be dire," he added.
In his speech, Mr Teo also emphasised the importance of remaining vigilant against threats to the country's internal security, such as online and self radicalisation. These, he said, have led individuals to tie up with terrorist groups or become lone-wolf terrorists.
He warned that, while terrorism may have been a well-reported threat in the past decade, "threats of espionage and foreign subversion are just as salient today as during the Cold War".
He explained that, while Singapore has been able to access new technology and is plugged into geopolitical developments, it also makes the country an attractive target for espionage and foreign subversion.
The ISD Heritage Centre, Mr Teo said, has played an important role in raising security awareness following the Sept 11 attacks in the United States.
For instance, it has reached out to civil servants, grassroots leaders and leaders of the different racial and religious groups here. Staff at the airport, seaports and hotels and taxi drivers have also been enlisted as "eyes and ears" on the ground.
Mr Teo pointed out that the centre has also supported efforts to nurture the next generation of religious leaders "so that they better appreciate the sensitivities and complexities of race and religion in Singapore".
He identified students as a "key constituent" of the centre, which was originally conceptualised as an in-house training facility for ISD officers. This is because the cases highlighted in the centre serve as "a treasure trove of valuable lessons that they can draw from".
Mr Teo also announced that, over the next two years, the Education Ministry will work with the centre to reach out to all students in primary and secondary schools, as well as junior colleges, through roving exhibitions. These exhibitions have already been rolled out to about 20 schools.
In addition, the facility has also organised more than 50 exhibitions in public places, such as community clubs and shopping centres.
The event yesterday also marked the opening of the Counter-Terrorism Gallery at the centre. It features two main components, depicting Singapore's past experiences with terrorism, as well as an extensive showcase on the Jemaah Islamiah terrorist network.
