Singapore's MHA detains Mas Selamat's son under Internal Security Act

The son of Singapore’s Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) leader Mas Selamat Kastari is being detained for two years under the Internal Security Act, said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Thursday evening.

In a statement posted on its website, the ministry said 25-year-old Muhammad Hanif bin Mas Selamat, better known as Masyhadi, has been detained under the ISA since 21 November last year for his involvement in the terrorist organisation.

Masyhadi was on 20 October arrested at his own wedding reception in Central Java. He was then detained at an undisclosed location and subsequently deported to Singapore 10 days later.

According to the MHA, Masyhadi was schooled in the JI’s religious and radical teachings at their schools in Indonesia since he was 13 years old. When he grew older, he underwent paramilitary training and formally became a JI member, taking its oath of allegiance when he turned 21.

Among other things, the MHA also said he conducted JI surveillance activities and “disseminated radical propaganda” online in support of jihadist violence.

Restriction orders on others

Separately, two Singaporeans, 23-year-old Zakaria bin Rosdan and 29-year-old Muhammad Khairul Sofri bin Osman, were placed under restriction orders for two years. This means they are not allowed to travel out of Singapore or change their residence or employment. They will also not be allowed to issue public statements, address public meetings or print, distribute or contribute to any publication, or be a member of any organisation, association or group, without the ISD’s approval.

The two, said the MHA, were “radicalised” and “were inspired to undertake violent jihad in places of conflict like Syria”. Zakaria had, according to the ministry, tried to establish contact with a number of foreign militant entities online in an attempt to join them and get to the conflict zones, while Khairul is said to have encouraged and abetted him in his plans.

Meanwhile, a JI detainee, Mohd Azmi bin Ali, was released from detention and placed under restriction order on 15 December last year. The restriction orders on six other JI members were allowed to lapse between December and January this year. The MHA said they had been “co-operative and responsive to rehabilitation efforts”.