Strengthening Singapore's cohesion and resilience

Parliamentary Colleagues Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman and Mr Baey Yam Keng

Members of the National Steering Committee and Working Committee on Racial and Religious Harmony

Chairpersons and members of IRCCs

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

1. Good morning. It is my great pleasure to join you today, at the National IRCC Workshop.

2. We are here to discuss how to strengthen our unity and harmony. At the heart of this is how we build a secure and resilient nation in light of a key threat that Singapore faces – the threat of a terror attack.
   

The threat of terrorism

3. In the last five months, no less than 11 terror attacks were carried out around the world. The threat of terrorism has increased in its reach and when the perpetrators are prepared to take their own lives in the process, deterrence becomes more difficult.

4. Investigation of the Brussels and Paris attacks showed the use of sophisticated encryption to mask communication. It also showed the ability of ISIS to train cells of followers in weaponry and explosive making in Syria and send them back to their home countries, along with tokens used for communication. Social media is being used as a tool to spread extremist ideologies and recruit fighters, especially young people worldwide. Several Singaporeans were radicalised in this way.

5. We need to stay firmly united and strong against terrorist acts carried out to kill the innocent and instil fear. After the London bombings of July 2005, we launched the Community Engagement Programme to build networks of trust, strengthen the understanding between different races and religions, and build up our skills and knowledge in coping with emergencies.

6. Despite these efforts, we are exposed to the risk of a terrorist attack. Last year, a number of arrests were made in Singapore, some residents of Singapore, some foreigners transiting through Singapore. We have had Singaporeans planning to join ISIS, failing which they would carry out assassinations in Singapore; and groups of foreign workers planning to create a caliphate in their home country. Would-be ISIS fighters have also come through Singapore as a transit point to head to the Middle East. In February, we deported a group of Indonesian travellers who came to Singapore to get their passport stamped in order to build up a travel history that they hoped would provide alibi for their ultimate trip to join ISIS.

7. The threat of terrorism on our shores is very real. We must be mentally prepared that an act is no longer a matter of “if”, but “when”. We must be aware of this new reality, and be prepared to meet this challenge.
   

The importance of IRCCs in today's environment

8. This annual workshop is a key platform for the IRCCs to come together and discuss how to play a critical role in strengthening our defence against terrorism. All of you, representing 1500 IRCC members, with presence in every constituency, form an extensive network of community leaders whom Singapore can depend on in times of crisis. For example, in response to the recent arrests of radicalised Bangladeshis, and in the aftermath of attacks in Jakarta, Paris and Brussels, IRCC leaders helped convey important messages to the community about the need to stay united as one people.

9. Today, let me talk about what are your roles and how you can partner the Government in countering terrorism.
   

Strengthening our networks with the community

10. First, we need to strengthen our networks within and between the communities in Singapore. In a crisis, DRUMS (Distortions, Rumours, Untruths, Myths, Smears) can create anxiety and stir up negative emotions. To counter this, there must be strong communication links between the Government and the communities, and within the communities. Our community partners must be given timely and accurate information for them to reach out to their members and quash any rumours. The IRCCs remain an integral channel for the Government to reach out to the community and the people.

11. The local IRCCs also serve as channels between the different religious bodies in the local community. They serve to augment the linkages between the religious leaders and their followers. We need to constantly deepen these networks, and build stronger links for crisis response among our different races and religions.
    

Engage our youths in building social harmony

12. Second, we need to engage our youths in building social harmony. Our harmony depends on Singaporeans having respect for one another's beliefs as well as a sense of shared responsibility. And it is important that these values are passed down to subsequent generations of Singaporeans. I am glad to see many youth leaders and students among us at this workshop. Thank you to our young participants for joining us today!

13. It is important that youths are part of our conversation on racial harmony. I would like to encourage the IRCCs and religious groups to actively engage our youths on inter-racial conversations. MCCY recently organised a Youth Engagement Workshop, which involved 120 youths from 25 religious and community organisations. At the workshop, they discussed how they could play a part in promoting social cohesion. Many ideas were shared and discussed. Such sessions promote better understanding about religions in the Singapore context and the sensitivity needed to maintain social harmony. It is also an opportunity to equip our youths with knowledge to deal with DRUMs and to be alerted to friends who may have developed mistaken views about certain religions.

Enhancing crisis management skills

14. Finally, we want to help you enhance your crisis management skills. During a crisis, you play a key role in addressing ground concerns, quashing rumours, and preserving solidarity among your members. To do this effectively, you need to have a raft of skills at your disposal, including the ability to mediate and communicate. So we will provide you with the communications tools to help you manage your responses to mainstream and online media better. This workshop serves to prepare you for a crisis, so that you can practise your crisis management skills in a safe and trusting environment.
    

SG Secure – strengthening the community's response to crisis

15.  I would like to end by emphasising the importance of your role. You help protect our social harmony by quashing words, actions and thoughts that could potentially disrupt the racial harmony in our society. So when we say stay vigilant, this is what we mean. Observe the words, thoughts and actions around us. Are there words that could hurt each other? Are there actions that could harm us? Are there thoughts that could potentially hurt our loved ones? We need to stay vigilant by observing these signs and reporting them if necessary.  And when an act of terrorism is advertently carried out, your words, actions and thoughts will send strong messages about who we are as Singaporean. You would recall how the Australians recovered from the shooting incident in Sydney, when the “I'll ride with you” message from non-Muslims to Muslims became the defining moment. When that message was sent out, the terrorists knew that they had not succeeded in tearing the people apart. That the people, instead of resigning in fear and mistrust, stood in solidarity as the best defence against terrorism. We have launched a national movement which will take shape over the next few months. The national movement – SG Secure - is a call-to-action for all of us to stay united, stay alert and stay strong as a community in times of crisis. I would like to invite all of you to participate actively in this movement to complement our Home Team's capabilities to respond to any attack. You have a very important role to play. In fact, when I talk to foreign visitors about multi-racial Singapore, I always say that it is this people-to-people relationship, the community coming together, the trust that was built through daily interactions, which contributed to the strong social fabric that stood the test of time over the past 50 years. Now, there are challenges that are confronting us; forces that try to tear us apart, hence it is even more critical now for you to understand your role and to actively practise what you believe in. We look forward to your active participation and positive leadership in building a better, stronger and united Singapore for the future. Thank you very much.