Shanmugam: Radicalisation cases rising, S'pore must be 'psychologically prepared' for terror incident

The number of radicalisation cases in Singapore is increasing and it is worrying, Minister for Law and Home Affairs K Shanmugam said on Feb. 11.

Speaking on recent cases of a student, housewife and cleaner who were dealt with under the Internal Security Act (ISA), Shanmugam said Singapore is not immune to extremist rhetoric.

The minister highlighted:

"(This is the) third young man that we have now issued orders against on far-right extremist ideologies. He has been consuming all the junk on race issues and has convinced himself on far-right supremacy. He wants to start a race war among Chinese and Malays. He wants to go in a mosque to kill Muslims.

Meanwhile, we also issued orders against two others – a lady and a man, Muslims, who were looking at it from an extremist perspective as well."

Shanmugam then added, "Remember the SGSecure tagline? Not if, but when. At some point, something will happen. We just have to be psychologically prepared."

Greater tension in the world will also affect Singapore

The minister made his remarks while speaking to the media at the Sri Thendayuthapani Temple for Thaipusam 2025.

Shanmugam said that while the situation in Singapore is not as bad as other countries and the Internal Security Department can tackle radicalisation cases earlier, tensions in the world will also eventually affect Singapore.

When asked if Singapore can expect to see more security incidents, Shanmugam replied, "It is a world out there which is more fraught, more troubled. You will see more of this outside and that will wash in, in some way within Singapore too."

In addition, should a terror incident occur in Singapore, the important question for the country is how it comes back the day after.

"Whether we come together across the races and religions, and say these are isolated incidents, or whether we let that make us suspicious of each other," Shanmugam explained.

Thus far the government has been doing much to ensure there is strength within the community, he said.

Top image via Mothership