Strengthening efforts to tackle threats of radicalisation and extremist ideologies

Question

Assoc Prof Fatimah Lateef: To ask the Minister for Communications and Information and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs whether visitations to, and sharing of the work done by, the Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG) can be embedded into the curriculum of every cohort of asatizah as well as secondary and post-secondary madrasah students.

Response

Minister Yaacob Ibrahim: Asatizah registered under the Asatizah Recognition Scheme, or ARS, are required to undergo the Continuing Professional Education (CPE) programme.  Since 2013, the CPE includes a key module on counter-extremism by the Religious Rehabilitation Group, or RRG. Through this module, the RRG shares with Asatizah its experience in rehabilitating and reintegrating former Jemaah Islamiyah members into society. MUIS and the RRG will continue to update this module to ensure its relevance, and to aim for every Asatizah to attend it. Currently, 80% of our Asatizah are part of the ARS, and we will encourage the remaining 20% to come onboard.

1. Many Asatizah have visited the RRG Resource and Counselling Centre (RCC) at Khadijah Mosque since its launch in 2014, to learn first-hand the RRG's efforts in tackling extremist ideologies especially those on social media platforms.  

2. The RRG also engages our secondary and post-secondary madrasah students on the threats of radicalisation and extremism through platforms such as learning journeys to the RCC and the Madrasah Pre-U Seminar. The Madrasah Pre-U Seminar is attended by all secondary and pre-U Madrasah students, and is held every 2 to 3 years. MUIS will continue to strengthen the madrasah curriculum with relevant content developed by the RRG.