VIGILANCE AGAINST TERRORIST ATTACKS

VIGILANCE AGAINST TERRORIST ATTACKS: 15.

Mr Christopher de Souza asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs (a) what is the local terrorism threat level after the recent successful operations against terrorist cells in the region; (b) whether such operations have made Singapore and Southeast Asia safer; and (c) what measures Singaporeans can take to maintain our heightened vigilance against terrorist attacks.

The Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs (Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee) (for the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs): Mr Speaker, Sir, security operations undertaken by the Indonesian authorities following the attacks against two Jakarta hotels on 17th July 2009, and by the Malaysian and Philippine authorities in recent months, have led to the capture and death of several terrorists, including Noordin Top.

These counter-terrorism successes have improved the security situation in the region. However, the elimination of several terrorist leaders does not remove this threat. We must remember that other terrorists are still at large and individuals continue to be recruited to become terrorist operatives. The recent security operations also uncovered terrorist plots, and surfaced weapons and explosives. These confirm that terrorist elements remain intent on and are capable of carrying out terrorist attacks. One concern is that terrorist elements might even be driven to launch more attacks out of desperation or revenge. We should also not underestimate their capability to regroup and the possibility that a new charismatic, and equally violent, leader will emerge to take Noordin’s place.

The key challenge against terrorism is the violent jihadist ideology. Societies and governments need to take a firm and unequivocal stand against such radical

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and violent ideology. By doing so, such ideas would have limited space to spread in the population. Otherwise, we will continue to see new generations of radicals and terrorists develop.

There have also been signs that international terrorists like Al-Qaeda may be re-establishing ties with regional terrorist elements. Previous collaborations between Al-Qaeda and the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) had resulted in major regional attacks like the 2002 Bali bombings, the Marriott Hotel attack in Jakarta in 2003 and the Australian Embassy attack in Jakarta in 2004; Al-Qaeda had also previously collaborated with the Singapore Jemaah Islamiyah to plot attacks here.

Sir in short, the threat of terrorism to Singapore and Southeast Asia remains a major challenge despite the recent successful operations. We have a long way to go before this threat can be considered eliminated or reduced.

In Singapore, MHA has been meticulously investigating and tracking down Singaporeans and others involved in terrorism. Over the years, we have also undertaken many measures aimed at countering terrorist ideas and hardening our defences. However, we know that we remain on the terrorists’ radar. They will continue to look for opportunities to attack us, hoping that we will let down our guard. They may also try to take advantage of high profile events hosted by Singapore to maximise publicity.

The Home Team will continue to work in concert with our local and regional partners to try to prevent terrorist attacks in Singapore. Some of the measures we take will cause inconvenience to the public. However, I hope that Singaporeans will continue to be understanding and render their full cooperation. Security is everyone’s business, not just the responsibility of the Government and

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security agencies. The public should also continue to stay alert for any suspicious persons or activities, and report such observations to the authorities so that we can take preventive action.

Mr Christopher de Souza: Thank you, Senior Minister of State, I have two supplementary questions. On the issue of Singapore being on the terrorists' radar, have our MHA officers been given access to Mas Selamat and if so, what did he say?

And secondly, what is the outcome of Mas Selamat's family's request for travel documents to enable them to visit him in Malaysia?

Assoc. Prof. Ho Peng Kee: Sir, let me first say that, Singapore understands Malaysia's need to hold Mas Selamat for further investigations in order to neutralise any potential security threat, specifically the plot he was hatching whilst hiding in Johor. Malaysian authorities have given our security officers access to Mas Selamat. He was, however, uncooperative during the interview and refused to talk. So at this point, ISD's accessment is that he remains defiant. Sir, the security agencies of both countries are in close communication with each other. Nevertheless, given Mas Selamat's past records, we must be realistic about what we can extract from a hardcore terrorist like him, in particular, on the details of his escape. He may not reveal everything. Indeed, even if he does eventually talk, we may have no way of confirming with certainty everything that he says. So that is the reply to the first question.

On the second question, Sir. ISD is still considering the request from the family members for travel documents. The passports of Mas Selamat's family members were seized in 2005 because of the immigration offences they had committed whilst they were in Indonesia in the earlier years, when Mas Selamat was on the run from the authorities. He

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had produced a false Indonesian identity card and he and his family had hidden in Indonesia as illegal immigrants. Moreover the passports were also seized for security reasons as Mas Selamat's wife was a member of the JI's Women's Wing. ISD will take all these factors into consideration in coming to a decision whether or not to issue the family with travel documents.