Social fabric will hold, say community and religious leaders

TODAY - It's up to you and me

24 November 2010

The terrorist threat stems as much from the act itself, as how society deals with its aftermath

by Eugene K B Tan

What would you do if your relative, an alleged terrorist who escaped from police custody, showed up at your front door? Many of us might say that we would report the matter to the police but, truth be told, some among us would be hard-pressed to do the right thing by the law.

The tug of family ties at our heart-strings, and perhaps our refusal to believe that the sibling, cousin or child at the door could be a terrorist, are part of the gamut of feelings one might experience.

I imagine such emotions would have assailed some of Mas Selamat Kastari's relatives when he presented himself at his brother's Tampines flat on Feb 29, 2008, two days after escaping from the Whitley Road Detention Centre.

Mas Selamat ended up staying overnight at the flat and was assisted in his escape to Malaysia.

Last week, the ex-fugitive's brother, sister-in-law and niece were convicted under section 130 of the Penal Code for harbouring a prisoner of the State. They received jail terms ranging from three to 18 months. A fourth person, Mas Selamat's nephew, was given a stern warning.

In addition, the Ministry of Education said yesterday it would initiate proceedings against Mas Selamat's niece, a Malay language teacher, with a view to dismissing her.

There is already a debate raging over whether our security agencies lacked the guile to track down Mas Selamat, and whether the punishments are too lenient given the "grave offence" of rendering assistance to "a hardened and dangerous terrorist".

There is no indication that the Public Prosecutor would appeal against the sentences.

However, there is a larger and pressing concern which was palpable at Monday's parliamentary sitting. In the wake of this revelation by Home Affairs and Law Minister K Shanmugam, is the Muslim-Singaporean community in the spotlight again? Would there be a backlash against the community?

In closing his ministerial statement, Mr Shanmugam emphasised that the actions of four of Mas Selamat's relatives were "not a reflection on the wider Malay-Muslim community".

He urged Singaporeans not to allow this episode "to affect the trust and goodwill that has been built up over the years between our different communities".

This is timely advice, although one wonders why we have to reiterate those points every time a terrorism-related matter arises (we heard similar remarks earlier this year when certain self-radicalised individuals surfaced).

Contrary to what some might think, the extremist threat here is not solely a Malay-Muslim problem but a national one, as Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong emphasised in 2006. It means, among other things, that non-Muslims need to distinguish the small number of extremists from the "majority of moderate, rational, loyal Muslim Singaporeans with whom we work together to tackle a shared problem".

BLOOD TIES

Unfortunately, some netizens have resorted to lazy analysis and convenient stereotypes in explaining the actions of Mas Selamat's relatives, and of the Muslim community as being guilty by association.

But is it religious belief that dictates a person's choice to harbour or turn away a relative on the run from the law - or the far more fundamental instinct that blood ties evoke?

According to a poll of 100 Singaporeans conducted by The New Paper, one in three would open their doors to fugitive kin, and that sentiment cut clearly across ethnic lines. The importance of family obligations also features across belief systems such as Confucianism.

This does not make what Mas Selamat's relatives did right, as Muslim leaders stressed, with Minister Shanmugam making clear their assisting the fugitive placed "Singapore's and Singaporeans' security in serious jeopardy". But the dilemma of choosing between kinship ties and national security is one that evidently concerns the Government.

In July, soon after the detention of a national serviceman and restriction orders issued on two other individual, Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng had noted how family members in some cases had seen the tell-tale signs of self-radicalisation in loved ones, but treated it "as a joke or they don't take it seriously". Families were urged to see to it that such members get help early.

This is a fine line the authorities tread, because while vigilance is important, it would not do to encourage paranoia, and the last thing we want is to create deeper divisions between communities and families.

DANGER OF FINGER-POINTING

The tendency to focus on terrorism and its supposedly immutable links with the Muslim community only contributes to a ratcheting up of the ambient doubt in our multiracial society.

There is danger in such a finger-pointing approach. Given terrorists' dependence on a sympathetic constituency to draw support and recruits to the cause, indiscriminately attributing cause-and-effect to the Muslim community more often than not marginalises - if not alienates - the very bedrock of the Muslim community that should form the critical bulwark against violent extremism.

Singapore's existential threat is not terrorism per se, but the mindless, knee-jerk reactions to it. While the terrorist act is bad enough, it is the upheaval in the aftermath of a successful attack that has far greater consequences.

Sustained confidence-building among the communities is needed to ensure that Singapore builds an adequate stock of social capital and resilience to withstand threats to its social fabric from terrorism. The best counter-radicalisation strategy will not prevent the odd individual from being seduced by violent extremism, so to expect Singapore to be free of the risk of terrorism is grossly-misplaced confidence.

Absolute security is not achievable - but that should spur us to ensure the terrorists do not succeed in their quest to divide our society. Social trust will only be engendered if Muslims and non-Muslims alike work as full citizens to counter the terrorist threat. We can start by not going through the iterations of recrimination, doubt and fear.

Governments do not defeat terrorism. Ultimately, it is up to people like you and me to strengthen the mortar in our defensive walls and, in doing so, deny terrorism a victory.

The writer is assistant professor of law at the Singapore Management University School of Law.

(With thanks to TODAYonline.com)

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The Straits Times - Social fabric will hold, say community and religious leaders

23 November 2010

COMMUNITY and religious leaders yesterday said they were confident that the social fabric would not be torn by the disclosure that Mas Selamat Kastari's family members had harboured him.

They said national efforts to build trust between people of different races and religions had made it clear to most that the majority of Muslims in Singapore were against extremism of any form.

Mr Chua Thian Poh, president of the Singapore Federation of Chinese Clan Associations, spoke for many when he said: 'Most Singaporeans know that the majority of Muslims are against terrorists.'

Bishop Robert Solomon, president of the National Council of Churches of Singapore, added that 'very few people, if any, would link this incident with the rest of the Muslim community'.

Dr Solomon noted that the community 'has clearly rejected Mas Selamat's terrorist ways and stood with other Singaporeans in seeking to build a safe and peaceful nation'.

Many among the 10 leaders interviewed yesterday added that while few would feel sorry for the Jemaah Islamiah leader's relatives, many can understand the natural instinct to help a family member, even one who has broken the law.

Mas Selamat's niece Nur Aini received 18 months' jail for harbouring him, while his brother Asmom and sister-in-law Aisah got 12 months and three months respectively.

As Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam pointed out: 'The court is likely to have given weight to the fact that the assistance was not premeditated; rather, the three persons appear to have acted on misguided instincts of family ties on the spur of the moment.'

However, Deputy Mufti Fatris Bakaram made clear that harbouring a known fugitive from the authorities is against Islamic principles.

Mr Rhazaly Noentil, a member of the Inter-Agency Aftercare Group, which looks after detainees' families, felt the relatives could have persuaded Mas Selamat to surrender himself, especially as his escape was widely publicised.

Ustaz Ali Haji Mohamed, co-chairman of the Religious Rehabilitation Group which counsels terror detainees, felt the relatives did not understand that their actions had wider implications for the country's security and relations between different communities.

He added: 'We are prepared to step forward and help counsel them if we are given the opportunity.'

Community leaders also credited efforts to nurture social bonds and break down ethnic barriers with helping to ensure that episodes like the present incident do not harm race relations.

These include the Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circles (IRCCs) in all constituencies, which were mooted in 2002, and the five-year-old Community Engagement Programme to reduce tensions in a crisis.

Eunos IRCC chairman S. Lakshmanan said that ever since grassroots and religious leaders in his neighbourhood started meeting regularly through the IRCC network eight years ago, they have been able to ask one another sensitive questions about things like terror arrests in a frank manner.

This, in turn, helps them explain to their friends and circles that the actions of a few misguided individuals do not reflect the thinking of the community they come from.

As Braddell Heights IRCC chairman Bernard Chiang put it: 'We do not look at the race or religion of the perpetrator, we look at the person himself.'

Added Nominated MP Teo Siong Seng, president of the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry: 'We must look at things objectively and not generalise about any community.'

MP Alvin Yeo, who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for Home Affairs and Law, said episodes like the present one are a test for such groups.

'I am reasonably confident we'll be able to withstand this,' he said.

(With thanks to SPH - StraitsTimes.com)

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The Straits Times - Harbouring fugitive is against Islam: Deputy Mufti

23 November 2010

DEPUTY Mufti Fatris Bakaram, who assumes the post of Mufti on Jan 1, gave this response to media queries on the arrest of Mas Selamat's relatives:

'As a religion that places great emphasis on peaceful living amongst different communities, Islam requires every individual in society to play his or her role in observing and achieving this objective.

The act of harbouring a known fugitive from the authorities is against Islamic principle.

This is a principle within the Islamic faith that must be upheld by every Muslim, even though the fugitive is a family member or relative.

Prophet Muhammad once stated that even if his daughter was caught stealing, punishment would still be meted out to her.

The tendency to help, protect or defend a family member or next-of-kin is a natural instinct of a human being.

But it is not acceptable in Islam, if in doing so, it will jeopardise the peace and security of society and the country.

Allah says in the Quran (Chapter 4: verse 135): 'O you who believe! Stand out firmly for justice, as witnesses to Allah; even though it be against yourselves, or your parents, or your kin, be he rich or poor, Allah is a Better Protector to both (than you).

So follow not the lusts (of your hearts), lest you avoid justice, and if you distort your witness or refuse to give it, verily, Allah is Ever Well-Acquainted with what you do.''

(With thanks to SPH - StraitsTimes.com)

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TODAY - Harbouring a fugitive 'against Islamic principle': Muis

23 November 2010

by Zul Othman

SINGAPORE - Very disappointed - that is how Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim felt when he learned that Mas Selamat Kastari's relatives had sheltered the fugitive following his escape in 2008 from the Whitley Road Detention Centre.

In a statement to the media yesterday, Dr Yaacob said: "I'm disappointed because we know that Singaporeans from all backgrounds have come together since 2002 - the Malay/Muslim community very prominently - to keep the lid on the danger of terrorism: Reporting suspicious activity, counselling detainees, supporting their spouses and children, going out to the public to disabuse any notion that violence against the innocent is tolerated in Islam, and so on."

The terrorist leader's niece Nur Aini, his brother Asmom and sister-in-law Aisah were jailed on Nov 18 for harbouring Mas Selamat at their Tampines flat between Feb 29, 2008 and March 1, 2008. Former Malay language teacher Nur Aini also helped her uncle disguise himself as a woman in a tudung to evade recapture.

"Harbouring is a very serious offence - more so when it involves a wanted fugitive who was a threat to the whole country - at a time when everyone was deeply concerned and actively looking out for him," added Dr Yaacob, who is also Environment and Water Resources Minister.

In a separate statement, Deputy Mufti Ustaz Fatris Bakaram from the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) said the act of "harbouring a known fugitive from the authorities is against Islamic principle".

"This is a principle within the Islamic faith that must be upheld by every Muslim even though the fugitive is a family member or relative ...

"The tendency to help, protect or defend a family member or next-of-kin is a natural instinct of a human being. But it is not acceptable in Islam, if in doing so, it will jeopardise the peace and security of society and the country," Ustaz Fatris added.

Despite the "tremendous disappointment", Dr Yaacob said that the "good work at all levels must continue": "So we continue to build understanding and confidence, and enhance safety and security to emerge from this episode, stronger as a society."

Following Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam's update, Member of Parliament Zaqy Mohamad (Hong Kah) sought assurances that Malay and Muslim women in tudung would not be unnecessarily scrutinised when they enter security areas or go for job interviews.

In response, Mr Shanmugam said: "When someone is picked up for scrutiny, whether or not he or she is wearing a tudung, really depends on security assessments.

"As to the broader question, the Government has consistently stated over the years that the actions of a few are not a reflection of the Malay-Muslim community as a whole. Our position remains unchanged."

Government Parliamentary Committee (Home Affairs and Law) chairman Alvin Yeo told MediaCorp that, while relations always matter, families should also realise when "it's a matter of law and national security".

Ustaz Firdaus Yahya from the Darul Hufazz Quranic Centre urged the Muslim community to "contribute more to society to show that not all Muslims share this same ideology".

Mr Ali Mohamed, chairman of the Religious Rehabilitation Group, referrring to Nur Aini's family, said: "We have to do something to make them come back to the society, to the right path, and live as Singaporeans."

(With thanks to TODAYonline.com)

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Berita Harian - Yaacob: Insiden mengecewakan tapi masyarakat perlu terus bina kesefahaman

23 November 2010

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Berita Harian - Timbalan Mufti: Islam tegah perbuatan lindungi orang salah

23 November 2010

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Berita Harian - Pemimpin bukan Islam: Perbuatan tidak akan jejas hubungan kaum dan agama

23 November 2010

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Berita Harian - Pemimpin Islam: Dosa lindungi orang salah

23 November 2010

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Berita Harian - Ramai terkejut dan kesal perbuatan keluarga

23 November 2010

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Lianhe Zaobao - 窝藏罪犯是非常严重罪行 雅国对窝藏内情深感失望

23 November 2010

马士沙拉末的哥哥一家无视他对国家和社会安全的威胁,协助窝藏他或知情不报,令不少人感到震惊;宗教领袖受访时表示,窝藏者顾念亲情而违法,不能以一概全地怪罪马来社群,这件事更不会因此破坏本地多元种族的和谐社会。

主管回教事务的环境及水源部长雅国博士坦承对被披露的内情深感失望,并指出窝藏罪犯是非常严重的罪行,尤其当它涉及一名对整个国家构成威胁的通缉犯时,而且每个人又都这么深切关注并积极搜寻他的下落。

"没有任何的借口或解释可以帮助我们从失望中恢复过来。"

他说之所以感到失望,是因为我们知道来自社会各阶层的国人,特别是马来族回教徒,自2002年起就走在一起积极控制恐怖主义的威胁:通报可疑的活动、辅导囚犯,并对他们的配偶和子女提供支持、主动公开向人们解释对无辜者施行暴力的行为不被回教所容忍等。我们也聚集起来在邻里和社区内,在宗教领袖和国人之间建立强大的关系。"

马士沙拉末的哥哥一家无视他对国家和社会安全的威胁,协助窝藏他或知情不报,令不少人感到震惊;宗教领袖受访时表示,窝藏者顾念亲情而违法,不能以一概全地怪罪马来社群,这件事更不会因此破坏本地多元种族的和谐社会。

回教理事会副宗教司:
窝藏认识罪犯违反教义

不过,新加坡回教理事会副宗教司莫哈默法特里斯昨天受访时也强调,窝藏认识的罪犯违反了回教教义,这也是在回教信仰中最基本的原则,每名教徒包括罪犯的亲人也一定要严格遵守。

他说:"虽然对亲人伸出援手是人之常情,但这是不被回教所接受的,这样会影响国家和社会的和平与安全。"

佛教总会主席广声法师受访时表示,这只是孤立事件,不应该直接牵扯到整个马来社群。他认为各界人士和国人在共处、合作和互动下,对彼此有一定认识和了解,深信这起事件并不会影响本地社会的宗教和种族和谐。

他说:"他们是马士沙拉末的家人,并非陌生人或马来团体,在亲情的呼唤下才会盲目地协助他,这是可以理解的。"

宗教联谊会会长陈添来也表示可以理解阿斯蒙包庇亲人的做法,但也表示对方的做法可能对其他家庭和民众造成巨大伤害。

他相信经过这次事件后,有关当局会更严密监控恐怖组织,同时提醒民众要保持警惕,携手防范恐怖威胁。

陈添来也说:"马士沙拉末虽对社会安定造成威胁,但这是他个人选择,不代表整个回教。"

基督教会协会会长苏诺铭博士(Robert Solomon)认为本地各宗教团体之间多年来已建立了很好的互信,绝不会因这起事件而受到影响。

他表示,可能会把这起事件和整个马来社群划上等号的相信只有少数人,大部分本地民众都清楚马来社群不支持马士沙拉末的恐怖主义行为。

(With thanks to SPH - Lianhe Zaobao.com)

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Lianhe Zaobao - [社论]窝藏事件有待释疑

23 November 2010

内政部长尚穆根昨天在国会中发表部长声明,透露了回教祈祷团的本地头目马士沙拉末于2008年2月27日从惠特礼拘留中心逃出后,竟然得到他的哥哥阿斯蒙(60岁)一家的窝藏,并在他们的协助下,继续逃往马来西亚。

这项惊人揭露是在几个月前沙拉末从马来西亚被押回来之后,内部安全局在调查中得出的情报。他在调查过程中并不很合作,供词时有反复。但他受亲人窝藏一事是在当局多方查证后而确认的,并在阿斯蒙一家三人也已受到轻重不同的刑罚之后才公开。沙拉末从拘留中心逃出后在新加坡接触过什么人、做过什么事,其中的细节关乎新加坡的安全考量,也关乎当局的办案效率,这两方面都是不可妥协的。

沙拉末是在逃脱的两天后(2008年2月29日),到他的哥哥家寻求庇护,并在那里过了一夜。多位议员在部长发表声明后,起来发问的问题都提出了一些明显的疑问,最令人疑惑的是,内安局难道没有在他逃脱之后到其亲人的住家采取监视行动？

沙拉末的侄女努尔艾尼(27岁)是第一个被他接触的人,他哥哥这一家与他事实上已有好多年没有来往,甚至在他被拘留期间也未曾去探望过他;那么,为何努尔艾尼会在警方展开全岛大通缉、在整个社会都密切注意沙拉末的行踪的情况下,仍会被他说服,并由她去说服其父母留下他过一夜,过后还为他化妆、提供财物,协助他继续潜逃呢？

内长表明阿斯蒙一家并没有受到极端宗教信仰的影响,纯粹是一时出于亲情而分不清是非黑白。这个出人意表的情节,国人相信还有兴趣更深入的去了解,马来和回教社群也有必要去分析,阿斯蒙一家窝藏他,到底是出于亲情还是出于对他的同情？出于亲情还可以理解,出于同情则是令人忧虑了。

这次的揭露,给社会带来不小的震惊和失望。部长昨天在国会中的声明,以及给议员的答复还未能完全为人们释疑,尤其是沙拉末在警方布下的天罗地网中还能逃脱这一点。也许内安局对沙拉末的调查还在进行中,可能还有某些事情,当局现在无法说得太清楚。

沙拉末最后能够逃过当局的全面监控,顺利躲到长堤彼岸,这一段过程是个关键,当局最终必须对社会有个公开、清楚的交代。部长在答复议员的问题时说,目前还无证据显示,新加坡还存在着一个支持马士沙拉末的网络。部长特别表示:我们不能排除任何事情。这似乎意味着,部长在这个时候不愿意把话说得太满,当局在接下来的调查中若发现还有其他人士曾经给他以任何形式的协助,也并非不可能,"逃马事件"发展至今,已给新加坡人太多意想不到的事。尽管如此,社会人士没有必要捕风捉影,做无谓的揣测。

我国的马来族群对这个窝藏事件的发生,相信会是更加失望,因为自从回教祈祷团的恐怖主义行动露出台面、"逃马事件"之后,马来族群对这类威胁国家安全的阴谋和行动深恶痛绝,他们因此而担心不同种族之间多年建立起来的互信的和谐社会基础受到动摇,更不希望非马来族的新加坡同胞以异样眼光看待他们,我们也相信这个窝藏在逃回祈团分子事件给马来/回教族群很大的冲击。

马来社会的忧虑、失望,我们感同身受,而各族国人对种族之间的互信与和谐也并没有动摇,因为马来族群本身在对付极端宗教主义方面也尽了很大的努力,非马来族群对此看得很清楚。涉及国土安全的课题是各族国人的问题,加强团结、维护和谐,是反恐的心理防线,人们站稳这条防线便是各尽一份反恐力量。

(With thanks to SPH - Lianhe Zaobao.com)

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Tamil Murasu - I regret the incident, says Yaacob

23 November 2010

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