SINGAPORE: Singapore remains” a very important target” for terrorists, and the recent attacks and arrests in Malaysia show the need to be “very alert” to such threats, said Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam on Friday ( Jun 28 ).
Whatever happens across the Causeway will have an effect on Singapore, according to Mr. Shanmugam, who addressed the press at the Civil Service Club in Tessensohn Road.
The threat is even greater now that the Islamic State’s ( ISIS ) violent ideology is prevalent in the area, and attackers are able to carry out attacks using readily available weapons, he said.
All does remain alert to any dangers that might happen, he continued, even though there are no specific threats being investigated in Singapore right now.  ,
Mr , Shanmugam’s comments come after eight people were arrested last weekend by the Royal Malaysia Police ( PDRM ) for alleged links to the ISIS group.
Continuous operations were carried out across four says, with six people and two girls, aged between 25 and 70, detained.
Studies revealed threats against Malaysia’s King, Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, officials and senior officers army officers, Malaysia’s Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said at a media conference on Monday.  ,
REGIONAL Hazard
According to Mr. Shanmugam, the Malaysian Special Branch’s efforts to combat terrorism” considerably reduce the risk to Singapore and the area.”
” Our safety is strongly linked to Malaysia’s safety. Due to proximity, what happens in Malaysia will have an effect on our protection landscape”, he said.
He cited the example of Singapore’s past experience with the Jemaah Islamiah ( JI ) terror group.
Attacks were thwarted by the Internal Security Department ( ISD ) in December 2001 at locations in Singapore, including Yishun MRT Station and crucial military installations like Bukit Gombak’s Ministry of Defense Headquarters.  ,
After the first storm of detention around, JI members regrouped in Malaysia.
” They wanted to plan retaliatory strikes against Singapore”, said Mr Shanmugam. ” We remain a very important goal for extremists”.
According to Mr. Shanmugam, the harsh philosophy of ISIS” continues to appeal in this region, and is fueled by a virtual community of followers.”
” Islamist stories have radicalised many people, including these in Singapore. As long as these beliefs persist, it may continue to inspire assaults”, he said.
The ISD makes standard evaluations on the risk levels in Singapore, said Mr Shanmugam.
What has happened is something that needs to be taken into account ( our assessments ), he said, noting the impact the two recent incidents in Malaysia have had on the threat assessment in Singapore.” We make regular assessments – the ISD makes regular assessments,” he said.
” If you look around the place, ISIS philosophy is common in many countries, and this must be seen in that context”.
Mr Shanmugam also noted that intruders can now use readily available products, such as swords, to carry out attacks. ” We have seen this around the world”, he said, even citing the case of adversaries using cars to work down walkers.
He noted that a knife was used in the next month’s attack at the Ulu Tiram authorities station, another instance of a freely available tool that could be used for such purposes.
After an attack on a police station in Ulu Tiram, on the fringes of Johor Bahru, that left two police officers dead and one injured, Malaysia police made many arrests last month.
A JI associate carried out the harm in the early hours of May 17 and died in the ensuing shootout.
Mr Shanmugam noted that the intruder, 21- year- ancient Radin Luqman, had gone with a case of metal sheets and various objects, like a bulletproof vest across his chest. This meant that the “brazen assault” was good “pre- planned and post- ready”, he said.
The suspect’s father and brother are reported to be ISIS followers and the assault was good ISIS- inspired, said Mr Shanmugam.
Importantly, the father,  , Radin Imran, was originally associated with the JI party, and is said to have shifted towards supporting ISIS and radicalising his family people, said Mr Shanmugam.
In his home,” Radin Imran” also had four handmade air rifle. He said,” It gives me an idea that the home may have planned to carry out more problems.”
SECURING Asia
Mr Shanmugam said that amid for threats, Singapore adopts measures to ensure its surveillance, particularly as it faces increasing mix- border activity.
” We now have more than 460, 000 visitors crossing every evening between Singapore and Malaysia through the two Bridges, in addition to other types of travel”, he said.
On Friday, the two countries marked the 100th celebration of the Johor- Singapore Causeway, one of the busiest border bridges in the world.
By the end of 2026, the Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS ) Link project is scheduled to be finished.
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority ( ICA ) conducts checks at the borders, according to Mr. Shanmugam. People sometimes have to accept that this is a safety issue and that the checks are significant.
Singapore also cooperates closely and shares intelligence with a variety of international partners, including the Malaysian Special Branch, which Mr. Shanmugam described as “very important to deal with existing and emerging hazards.”
Mr. Shanmugam noted that the ISD has picked up 50 self-radicalized people since 2015, despite the fact that there are no specific risks being picked up in Singapore right now. According to him, 38 Singaporeans and 12 foreigners have received requests under the Internal Security Act.
” But if we go back, since 2015 – we have a zero- tolerance policy- we move in very early, we do n’t wait for the threat to materialise, or about to materialise, and we do n’t take chances”, said Mr Shanmugam.
He stated that while the policeman, ISD, and other government agencies will do their best to identify and stop terrorist attacks in this area.
” But we need all in world to play their part: To be diligent, to look out for suspicious behavior and activities, take part and register in SGSecure, if you find something, report them to the authorities”, said Mr Shanmugam.