Singapore to launch new counter-terrorism measures: Shanmugam
Reuters file photo of K Shanmugam
The government will roll out a series of new counter-terrorism measures amid the significant rise in the threat of radical extremism from organisations like ISIS, Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam said on Friday (18 March).
Among them, the protective security measures for buildings and premises will be enhanced with an expansion of CCTV coverage and development of data analytical capabilities of the Home Team, Shanmugam said in a speech at the Home Team Leaders’ Forum.
The installation of police cameras at 10,000 HDB blocks and multi-storey car parks will be completed this year. These cameras will also be rolled out in phases beginning this year in common areas in the heartlands such as town centres and hawker centres.
Where necessary, the government will enact legislation to require premise owners and organisers of major events to implement security measures. Such measures are necessary as terrorist attacks in other countries, such as the Paris attacks in November last year, have focused on soft targets.
New Emergency Response Teams (ERTs) will also be formed to respond quickly to terrorist attacks. Singapore has to increase the number of trained police officers and upgrade their immediate response capability, said Shanmugam, who is also the Law Minister.
Complementing the ERTs, the response of the second wave of forces, including the specialist teams from the Special Operations Command and the Gurkha Contingent will be enhanced.
The Community Engagement Programme, which was introduced in the aftermath of the London bombings in 2005, will be revamped considerably to strengthen the resilience, cohesion and capabilities of the community against the terror threat.
The Home Team will also launch a new national programme called SG Secure aimed at safeguarding Singapore against the threat. It will reach out to Singaporeans and work with partners to develop SG Secure.
“SG Secure cannot just be another public awareness campaign. It has to be a call to action. It has to be a movement,” Shanmugam said.
The Home Team will urge Singaporeans to take an active role in the programme by understanding the threats that they face, equipping themselves with the right skills and spreading the message of vigilance.
In his speech, Shanmugam outlined the four types of possible threats facing Singapore.
First he said that attacks can be planned elsewhere and be carried out in another place. The second threat is that attacks involving weapons could be smuggled for use by Singaporeans. The third threat comes from self-radicalised individuals who carry out a lone wolf attack. The fourth threat is the potential radicalisation of foreign workers in Singapore, as seen in the recent arrests and deportation of the 27 Bangladeshis who were planning extremist activities in other countries.
As such, Singapore has to significantly enhance its counter-terrorism measures to fight the various threats, Shanmugam said.
“Now we have to deal with an increased set of threats and deal with a new modus operandi. And there is no time to waste. We have to do this urgently.”
