Vigilance - Key at all times

A look back by Liu Guo Sheng (Hwa Chong Institution), SG United Journalist

THE recent arrest of Mas Selamat Kastari and the news from Malaysian authorities that he was still plotting attacks from his hideout in Johor, brought to mind the message reiterated at the National Community Engagement Programme (CEP) Seminar.

“During these difficult economic times, the concerns of many people are job security,” said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Mr Wong Kan Seng at the seminar last month. “But we cannot afford to take our eyes off the ball. The threat of terrorism and extremism remains.”

During the briefings at the seminar, CEP practiitioners from the CEP Secretariat of the Ministry of Home Affairs, spoke of capability development as a key strategic thrust under the CEP. Among the programmes are cross-cluster training under the Community Engagement Executive Development (CEED) programme, enhanced training under the Train the CEP Trainer programme, and customised training in the education cluster and the Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circles (IRCCs).

The CEP Secretariat and the cluster lead agencies are also scaling up on operational readiness. The PA cluster has introduced the CEP Ready Certification programme, which equips and ensures that each constituency is able to meet a minimum standard of preparedness. So far, about 30 out of 84 constituencies have received CEP Ready Certification. PA is aiming to have all constituencies achieve CEP Ready Certification by the end of this year, and is planning to start a CEP Unity award to give recognition to constituencies that have attained CEP Ready Certification and gone further to work closely and actively with IRCCs or IRCC members and School Representatives to drive CEP initiatives and organise joint events at the local level.

The extent of the success of the CEP, however, can only be seen when a real crisis occurs. "We may well fail, but we must do our best to work out practical response plans and exercise them in a realistic way with the players who will be the mobilisers and participants in a real situation. If we do not, failure is a certainty," said DPM Wong.

Despite the economic slowdown, Singaporeans must not lose their focus on the threat of terrorism and extremism. “We would be naïve to think that we are immune to extremism and bigotry. Cases of self-radicalised individuals detected and detained remind us how wrong such an assumption would be,” stressed DPM Wong.

Professor Rohan Gunaratna, head of the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research at the Nanyang Technological University, elaborated upon the very real threat of extremism and terrorism in the second part of the seminar, and also explained of the current and emerging trends and threat of terrorism and extremism.

Real threats: Professor Rohan Gunaratna spoke about the current and emerging trends and threat of terrorism and extremism. (Photo: Loh Jin Feng)

"The bedrock of counter terrorism is community engagement," said Professor Gunaratna. He also pointed out that the Western and non-Muslim majority government must build bridges and work with both the Muslim and the non-Muslim communities.

Of the CEP, DPM Wong reminded that it is work in progress.“

It will always remain a key resource which enhances our national unity, social cohesion and resilience,” said DPM Wong .