The Internal Security Department is Singapore's silent guardian against very real threats, says PM Lee. Read more at straitstimes.com.
The public may not notice the good work of Internal Security Department officers, but they have been and remain silent guardians against very real threats, says Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Here are edited excerpts from his speech atFor three-quarters of a century, ISD has worked quietly and vigilantly in the background to keep Singapore safe and secure.
That is why the British colonial government established the Singapore Special Branch 75 years ago, after the Communist Party of Malaya launched an armed uprising to establish a communist state. During the Malayan Emergency, the Special Branch, as the domestic intelligence agency, played a central role in tackling the communist threat. After separation from Malaysia, the Special Branch was renamed the Internal Security Department in 1966.
Our terrorism threat also does not arise domestically, but springs from the broader security situation in the region. The Jemaah Islamiyah group originated in Indonesia, and spawned cells in Malaysia and the Philippines as well as Singapore. ISIS operated in Syria and Iraq, but it inspired some Singaporeans to self-radicalise.
A decade plus later, ISIS, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria, rose to prominence. Some Singaporeans were radicalised by their ideology, and a few even travelled to Syria to participate in armed jihad. We take this danger seriously, because a single act of terror could tear apart the racial and religious harmony and trust that we have painstakingly built over the decades. We have seen this happen too often in other countries.
Since 2002, 137 Singaporeans have been issued with ISA orders, nearly 90 per cent have made good progress in rehabilitation and have been successfully reintegrated into society.Singapore a prized terrorist target due to its links with the West and global standing: ExpertsA second threat is foreign influence and espionage. This is not about war or physical attacks – the SAF exists to deal with that. We are talking about more insidious threats that lurk in the shadows.
Do we intervene immediately to put a stop to it, and prevent further harm being done? Or do we sit tight, watch, and suss out the network, before making our move? And when we act, how do we manage the potential fallout on the broader bilateral relationship?
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Vital to have a capable and vigilant Internal Security Department to protect Singapore: PM LeeAs the ISD marks its 75th anniversary, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong highlighted three security issues that Singapore faces.
Read more »
ISD celebrates its 75th anniversary by honouring officers who risked life and limb for SingaporeSINGAPORE - To map out the true extent of the threat that the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist group posed to Singapore, Internal Security Department (ISD) officers spent more than 600 hours working round the clock in the early 2000s. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Read more »
29 local brands honoured with Singapore Prestige Brand Award this yearUrgent care clinic StarMed Specialist Centre and interior design and renovation company Craftwork were among the winners. Read more at straitstimes.com.
Read more »
Daily Markets Briefing: STI declines 0.17%; Genting Singapore is most active stockpstrongGenting Singapore is top stock, increasing 3.64%./strong/p pThe Straits Times Index closed 3,078.78, declining 0.17% on Wednesday, 25 October 2023, at 5:30 p.m./p pSIA and ThaiBev were also top stocks./p pUOL and Keppel Corporation were the lowest.
Read more »
Singapore-based multi-currency app YouTrip raises another US$50 million in fundingYouTrip CEO Caecilia Chu says the company turned profitable in April and now processes US$10 billion in payments a year.
Read more »