Quote: "When the plot was revealed in January, NCCS sent out assurances to the Muslim community, stressing that there was "no animosity between our communities, and that we remain committed to defeating hatred and violence"."
Did MUIS, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore, similarly sent out assurances to the Christian community when Islamic fundamentalists were arrested. There were more Muslim fundamentalists arrested than the sole Christian "right-wing fundamentalist" arrested.
The National Council of Churches of Singapore work with church leaders to keep watch over the youth in their congregations to combat far-right influence.
Hariz Baharudin
July 18, 2021
SINGAPORE - The National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS) has been in touch with church leaders here to keep watch over the youth in their congregations to combat far-right influence.
Commenting on the 16-year-old Christian Singaporean detained under the Internal Security Act for plotting attacks against Muslims here last December, NCCS' general secretary, Reverend Dr Ngoei Foong Nghian, said the council believes it was an isolated case.
"The churches in Singapore do not subscribe to such extremism, and NCCS has been in communication with church leaders, in particular, to keep watch over the youths in their congregations as a follow-up to the incident," he said.
When the plot was revealed in January, NCCS sent out assurances to the Muslim community, stressing that there was "no animosity between our communities, and that we remain committed to defeating hatred and violence".
The Internal Security Department (ISD) said it is working with the NCCS on some aspects of the teenager's rehabilitation. The department said its rehabilitation process covers religious, psychological and social aspects.
For the wider community, Dr Ngoei said, the council expects that each church will implement its own programmes using pastoral care and mentoring to prevent such incidents from happening again.
The council will also continue to work with the authorities and other religious organisations here to ensure Singapore remains safe.
The ISD said that following the case of the radicalised teenager, various religious and community organisations here have approached them to understand the nature of the threat and to strongly denounce such violent extremism, as well as assist with rehabilitation efforts.
"Should the threat environment evolve to the point where far-right extremism is assessed to resonate to a greater extent here, the Government is confident that we can count on the relevant religious and community organisations to step forward," said the department.
Did MUIS, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore, similarly sent out assurances to the Christian community when Islamic fundamentalists were arrested. There were more Muslim fundamentalists arrested than the sole Christian "right-wing fundamentalist" arrested.
Churches in Singapore taking steps to fight right-wing extremism
The National Council of Churches of Singapore work with church leaders to keep watch over the youth in their congregations to combat far-right influence.
Hariz Baharudin
July 18, 2021
SINGAPORE - The National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS) has been in touch with church leaders here to keep watch over the youth in their congregations to combat far-right influence.
Commenting on the 16-year-old Christian Singaporean detained under the Internal Security Act for plotting attacks against Muslims here last December, NCCS' general secretary, Reverend Dr Ngoei Foong Nghian, said the council believes it was an isolated case.
"The churches in Singapore do not subscribe to such extremism, and NCCS has been in communication with church leaders, in particular, to keep watch over the youths in their congregations as a follow-up to the incident," he said.
When the plot was revealed in January, NCCS sent out assurances to the Muslim community, stressing that there was "no animosity between our communities, and that we remain committed to defeating hatred and violence".
The Internal Security Department (ISD) said it is working with the NCCS on some aspects of the teenager's rehabilitation. The department said its rehabilitation process covers religious, psychological and social aspects.
For the wider community, Dr Ngoei said, the council expects that each church will implement its own programmes using pastoral care and mentoring to prevent such incidents from happening again.
The council will also continue to work with the authorities and other religious organisations here to ensure Singapore remains safe.
The ISD said that following the case of the radicalised teenager, various religious and community organisations here have approached them to understand the nature of the threat and to strongly denounce such violent extremism, as well as assist with rehabilitation efforts.
"Should the threat environment evolve to the point where far-right extremism is assessed to resonate to a greater extent here, the Government is confident that we can count on the relevant religious and community organisations to step forward," said the department.
