MHA Appreciation Lunch for Community Volunteers - Speech by Mr Teo Chee Hean, Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs

Salam Sejahtera

Encik S.R Nathan,

Encik Wong Kan Seng,

Pengerusi Bersama RRG Ustaz Ali dan Ustaz Hasbi,

Para pemimpin Kumpulan Jagaan Lanjut Antara Agensi,

Tetamu Kehormat,

Hadirin sekalian

1. Saya ingin mengucapkan terima kasih kepada Kumpulan Jagaan Lanjut Antara Agensi (ACG) dan Kumpulan Pemulihan Keagamaan (RRG). Anda telah banyak menyumbang kepada usaha-usaha pemulihan keagamaan dan sosial individu-individu radikal yang telah ditahan kerana terlibat dalam kegiatan pengganasan. Anda juga telah membantu memenuhi keperluan emosi dan praktikal keluarga mereka.

2. Usaha bersama anda telah membantu keluarga para tahanan menjalani kehidupan seharian mereka dengan lebih baik. Ramai di antara anak-anak mereka cemerlang di sekolah. Pencapaian sedemikian tentunya memberi kepuasan kepada ACG dan RRG, dan masyarakat umum.

3. Namun, konflik yang berlarutan di Syria dan Iraq akan menarik lebih ramai individu untuk melakukan keganasan. Individu yang menjadi radikal secara sendiri atau "lone-wolves" juga merupakan ancaman yang semakin meningkat di banyak negara, termasuk Singapura.

4. Sepanjang beberapa bulan yang lalu, ISD telah menahan dua individu dan mengenakan Perintah Sekatan (RO) ke atas seorang lagi. Dua daripada mereka adalah remaja, sementara seorang lagi berusia 51 tahun. Ini menunjukkan bahawa retorik pelampau ISIS di Internet boleh mempengaruhi sesiapa sahaja. Memandangkan sengketa bersenjata di Syria mungkin berpanjangan, lebih banyak kes radikalisasi secara sendiri akan berlaku di Singapura.

5. Inisiatif-inisiatif baru ACG dan RRG tiba tepat pada masanya. Pihak ACG telah memperluas skop kerjanya. Selain membantu keluarga tahanan, mereka juga menjalankan usaha mendekati masyarakat. Usaha ini menyasarkan golongan belia dan bertujuan mendidik mereka tentang bahaya pengaruh radikal, serta menekankan peranan penting yang mereka mainkan bagi menjamin keselamatan dan keamanan negara kita.

6. RRG tidak hanya menyediakan kaunseling agama untuk para tahanan. Pada Julai lalu, talian bantuan RRG telah dilancarkan. Para kaunselor RRG yang mengendalikan talian tersebut dapat menjelaskan konsep-konsep agama yang telah disalahgunakan oleh golongan pelampau. Para pemanggil juga boleh mendapatkan bantuan sekiranya mereka mengesyaki seseorang yang mereka kenali telah dipengaruhi fahaman radikal. RRG juga mempunyai laman Internet sendiri, dan telah memuatnaikkan beberapa klip video ke YouTube bagi menerangkan bagaimana ISIS telah menyalahtafsirkan ajaran Islam.

7. Inisiatif-inisiatif baru ACG dan RRG ini membantu menambah usaha mengekang ancaman radikal yang kian meningkat. Saya ingin mengucapkan terima kasih kepada para relawan ACG dan RRG. Anda semua telah membantu mengukuhkan masyarakat Islam di sini dan melindungi belia kita. Menerusi usaha anda, anda juga telah memperkukuhkan rasa saling percaya di kalangan masyarakat berbilang kaum, dan menjadikan Singapura lebih selamat untuk semua.

8. Pada petang ini, saya juga rasa gembira dapat melancarkan buku terbitan ACG. Buku ini memaparkan bagaimana inisiatif pertubuhan Melayu/Islam memainkan peranan penting menentang pengganasan sejak 13 tahun lalu. Kisah-kisah peribadi di dalam buku ini menunjukkan kesan fahaman radikal terhadap keluarga individu itu, dan lebih penting sekali, memaparkan kerja keras ACG dalam membantu pihak keluarga membina semula kehidupan mereka.

9. Sejak ditubuhkan pada tahun 2002, ACG telah menjalankan kerja mereka secara senyap dan gigih. Menerusi buku ini, kita dapat berkongsi kisah ACG dengan orang ramai – menunjukkan bagaimana sebuah masyarakat dapat bersatu membawa perubahan positif dan membantu memperkukuh daya tahan masyarakat kita.

10. Tahniah kepada ACG dan RRG di atas kerja baik anda. Saya mengalu-alukan lebih banyak sumbangan yang bermakna daripada anda dalam usaha membanteras pengganasan ini.
    

11. Terima kasih sekali lagi.

ENGLISH TRANSLATION

Good Afternoon

Mr S.R Nathan,

Mr Wong Kan Seng,

RRG Co-Chairmen Ustaz Ali and Ustaz Hasbi,

Leaders of the Inter-Agency Aftercare Group,

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen

1. I would like to thank the Inter-Agency Aftercare Group (ACG) and the Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG). You have done much good work to provide religious and social rehabilitation to radicalised individuals who were detained for their involvement in terrorism-related activities. You have also helped to address the emotional and practical needs of their families.

2. Your combined efforts have helped families of the detainees to cope better. A number of their children have done very well in school. These are achievements which give much satisfaction to the ACG and the RRG, and the wider community.

3. However, the persistent conflict in Syria and Iraq will draw more individuals to violence. Self-radicalised individuals or "lone-wolves" also pose a growing threat in many countries, including Singapore.

4. In the last few months, ISD has detained two persons and issued a Restriction Order against another. Two were in their late teens, while the third was 51 years old. This shows that anyone is susceptible to the appeal of ISIS' online extremist rhetoric. Given that the armed conflict in Syria is likely to continue for some time, we can expect more such self-radicalised cases in Singapore.

5. It is timely that the ACG and the RRG have introduced new initiatives. The ACG has expanded the scope of its work from helping the families of detainees to engaging in outreach efforts. These outreach efforts specifically target our youth to sensitise them to the dangers of radical influences, and emphasise the important role our youth play to help keep Singapore safe and secure.

6. The RRG has also gone beyond providing religious counselling to detainees. In July this year, the group launched the RRG helpline. RRG counsellors manning the helpline can provide clarification on religious concepts misused by extremists. Callers can also seek help when they suspect that someone they know might be radicalised. The RRG also has its own website, and has uploaded videos on YouTube to explain how ISIS has misinterpreted Islamic teachings.

7. These new initiatives by the ACG and the RRG provide additional tools to counter the growing threat of radicalism. I would like to thank our volunteers in the ACG and RRG. You have helped strengthen the Muslim community and protected our youths. Through your work, youalso deepen the trust between all our communities, and make Singapore a safer home for all of us.

8. This afternoon, I am also happy to launch the ACG Coffee-table Book. The book documents how this ground-up initiative by Malay/Muslim organisations has played an integral part in countering violent extremism for the past 13 years. The personal stories provide valuable insights into the significant impact of radicalism on the individual's family, and more importantly, the unwavering work of the ACG in helping the families to rebuild their lives.
   

9. Since its formation in 2002, the ACG has done its work in a quiet and determined way. Through this book, we can now share the ACG story with a wider audience - to demonstrate how a community can unite to bring about positive change, and help strengthen our social resilience.

10. I congratulate the ACG and the RRG on your good work, and look forward to many more valuable contributions from you in this important area of counter-extremism.

11. Thank you once again.