Reference to CEP - DPM Wong's Speech

Ministry Of Home Affairs Committee Of Supply Debate 2010 - Speech By DPM Wong Kan Seng – Security & Counter Terrorism

05 March 2010

The threat of terrorism remains real in our region. And so it remains real for Singapore too. We are an open society and cannot insulate ourselves from the security situation in our region or other parts of the world.

2. Mr Alvin Yeo is right to point out that the threat of terrorism remains. This is notwithstanding the slew of arrests by regional authorities which Mr Christopher de Souza has noted. Indeed despite such successes, the terrorist threat, which Mr de Souza and Mr Hri Kumar talked about, remains significant.

3. Firstly, this is because the appeal of extremist and terrorist ideology is still very much alive. While the majority of people reject it, terrorism needs only a handful as its vanguard. Therefore, so long as radicalisation and self-radicalisation of individuals continue to occur, terror groups remain capable of recouping from their losses with new recruits. In Indonesia, for example, the death of Noordin Top has not discouraged those he had recruited from continuing with their terrorist acts. More recently, the arrests in Malaysia of the 10 terror suspects, which included individuals from Yemen, Nigeria, Jordan and Syria, are a reminder of our vulnerability to terrorist threats coming from beyond the region.

4. Secondly, terrorist tradecraft and methods are evolving even as security systems improve. Whether it is a liquid bomb or a binary bomb created to defeat detection technologies, or explosives in shoes or underwear, we continue to see the creative determination of terrorists to circumvent our security defences. The intent of terror groups to stage violent attacks has not diminished even if the opportunities to do so, especially for mega attacks, are fewer than before because of a general hardening of potential targets by the authorities.

5. Mr Christopher De Souza asked about steps to make Singapore and Southeast Asia safer. The most critical factor in enhancing the security of the region and therefore Singapore is strong intelligence and operational cooperation between our security and intelligence agencies and their regional and international counterparts. Intelligence shared between countries has helped in the prevention of attacks and in the arrests of terrorists. We have also deployed Police liaison officers in Jakarta and Manila to facilitate cooperation and timely intelligence exchanges with these two countries.

6. Border security is another key line of defence. Mr Hri Kumar asked whether the security measures at our checkpoints are apace with new terrorist threats and methods. We have established a range of physical security measures at all our checkpoints and regularly review these measures. For instance, checks at our airport were immediately stepped up after the foiled Christmas Day attack on Northwest Airlines Flight 253 in Detroit. But being an island, our borders are porous. Those determined to sneak into or out of Singapore may sometimes succeed.

7. Our border security is about more than just our checkpoints. Maritime security therefore is something we must continue to pay attention to. Given the current security climate, we cannot assume that an intrusion is criminal and is not terrorist-related. The Mumbai incident which saw the terrorists covertly entering the city by the sea tells us clearly that such an assumption could make us dangerously blinkered.

8. The Police Coast Guard (PCG) works very closely with the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) to have an integrated picture of the maritime domain. The PCG has also started to renew its fleet to enhance its detection and interception capabilities. In recent months, the PCG has achieved several successes against smuggling syndicates. This underscores its ability to prevent intrusions through our coastline.

9. We will not tolerate any seaborne threat to our domestic security. If an intruding vessel refuses to stop despite repeated instructions to do so, the PCG will shoot at the engine of non-compliant vessels to stop them at sea. Such disabling fire will be employed only when absolutely necessary, and the Police response will be proportional to the threat posed. Safeguards are in place to ensure that the responsible use of force are being complied with. PCG officers have undergone intensive proficiency training and will appraise the ground conditions carefully before employing disabling fire. Disabling fire will not be employed if there are any reasonable risks to innocent vessels or persons.

10. We are constantly seeking out new technologies to strengthen our border security. At our Tuas Checkpoint for instance, we have developed a facility for our front-line officers to test and detect suspicious chemical, biological, radiological, or explosive substances.

11. Ultimately, however, our most important asset in security is still our people. Public vigilance is the key to deterring terror cells from taking root in our community, a concern raised by Mr De Souza. Singaporeans need to play a part by being our eyes and ears on the ground and reporting any suspicious happenings that they see. Indeed, individuals in any potentially targeted domain have local knowledge and instincts which are useful to tap on and are of security value. If they can be trained and sensitised to look out for potential security risks, they will expand the community of security vigilance in our domain. By involving the community, we are also educating and preparing Singaporeans against a terrorist attack, which Mr Hri Kumar has correctly pointed out is key.

12. In line with this approach, we have piloted over the last year, an initiative called the Threat-Oriented Passenger Screening Integrated System (or TOPSIS). This initiative involves the Home Team working in an integrated manner with front-line officers in the key stakeholder entities at each of these checkpoints to better identify and respond to suspicious individuals. For instance, the non-security communities such as airport check-in counter staff are trained to assist security agencies to identify suspicious passengers.

13. Such an approach is not new. We have always emphasised how important it is to mobilise our public to be vigilant and prepared. Hence, we have always sought to work closely with both our public and private sector partners. Whether it is for high-profile events like the coming Singapore Youth Olympic Games, or protecting critical infrastructure or private developments such as the IR, the best way to balance security with other important considerations is to factor in security considerations from the outset in the planning for these events and developments.

14. This was indeed the approach taken with the IRs which Mr Arthur Fong asked about. The Home Team engaged the IRs from the design stage to ensure that safety and security requirements are addressed. We have also enhanced our response capacity for the IRs – for instance, the Marina Bay Neighbourhood Police Centre is already operational and the Fire Station will be operational next year.

15. Ensuring public vigilance and crisis preparedness of the community, a matter raised by Mr Christopher de Souza and Mr Arthur Fong, is a continuing effort of the Home Team. As Mr de Souza also mentioned, complacency of Singaporeans is always a concern. The more we are free from a terrorist incident or even a natural disaster, the more people are inclined to take security for granted. Be that as it may, we must persist with efforts to enhance crisis awareness and contingency preparedness at all levels. I would urge Singaporeans not to be complacent and take their security and safety for granted. They must do their part.

16. Last July, we conducted Exercise Northstar VII. This involved government agencies, the private sector and the community. In August last year, we launched a workshop series on crisis management. The first workshop was customised for senior security executives in the hotel industry. We will be conducting further workshops later this year to reach out to other corporate sector partners.

17. At the level of the general public, we have been developing the Community Engagement Programme (CEP). Now into its fourth year, the CEP has reached more groups than ever. The constituencies’ CEP Ready certification programme for instance, has seen the development of base-line crisis response capabilities in almost every constituency.

18. Mr De Souza asked how we can stop terrorist ideology from infecting our community. Here, we have very good work being done in the countering of extremist and terrorist ideology. The persisting threat of self-radicalisation makes these efforts even more critical today.

19. In this regard, I commend the efforts of our various local Muslim groups and scholars and the Religious Rehabilitation Group. Understanding the vulnerability of the young and that their medium of choice is often the Internet, many of these Islamic scholars are working through their websites and blogs to counter the toxic influence of extremist ideology propagated through the Internet.

20. I assure Members that we will do everything reasonable and practicable to prevent a terrorist incident and to mitigate its consequences, especially on our communal harmony and social cohesion, if it occurs. It is important therefore that Singaporeans play their part and continue to strive to be vigilant and prepared, and to nurture the bonds of trust within our community.

21. Ultimately, however, we need to be always realistic and balanced when we deal with security. On the one hand, we should not be in denial. The threat is real and we are not immune to it. On the other hand, we must recognise that no security system can be completely foolproof. Risk-based judgements and trade-offs must be made at all times. Life must go on despite the continuing threat of terrorism.

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