ISD keeping tabs on Singaporean fighter in ISIS video
By Danson Cheong, The Straits Times, 25 Sep 2017
The first known ISIS recruitment video featuring a Singaporean fighter has surfaced on social media, and the authorities say he has been on their radar for some time.
He was identified by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as Megat Shahdan Abdul Samad, 39.
He left Singapore in 2014 to work in the Middle East, where he is believed to have been radicalised, MHA said in a statement.
"He subsequently made his way to Syria to join ISIS' ranks. He is believed to still be with ISIS in Syria," it added yesterday.
Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam said in a Facebook post that the Internal Security Department (ISD) had been aware of Megat Shahdan's activities, and had spoken to community leaders about him.
The video was posted by Al Hayat Media Centre, a media arm of terror group Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), and shared by its South-east Asian supporters.
It shows a fighter dressed in desert fatigues, who identifies himself as "Abu Uqayl from Singapore". ISIS fighters commonly take on assumed names.
In the 3min 30sec-long video, seen by The Straits Times, a group of three fighters, including Megat Shahdan, are loading artillery rounds onto a truck in what is believed to be ISIS-held territory in the Middle East. The video was first flagged on social media sites SMRT Feedback and Observer+.
It is part of a series of propaganda videos titled Inside The Caliphate. An earlier video appealed to South-east Asian viewers to migrate to Marawi in the southern Philippines to fight for ISIS.
Speaking to the camera in English, Megat Shahdan praised fighters in "East Asia" - which includes South-east Asia - calling on them to "sacrifice all that is precious".
He then urged extremists elsewhere to join the East Asian fighters, or to travel to the Middle East to fight with ISIS fighters there.
He also addressed Britain's Prince Harry, who visited Singapore in June, saying: "To Harry, you come to Singapore and tell such stories to gain sympathy for the London terror attacks? Why don't you come here and fight us if you are man enough? So we can send you and your Apaches to hellfire."
Referring to the video, Mr Shanmugam said: "We expected this will happen some time."
He added: "Over time, we must assume more of this will happen."
He said Singapore had to think of ways to deal with the radicalisation of its citizens abroad.
ST understands that Megat Shahdan has previous drug-related and criminal convictions.
The ministry also urged anyone who is in contact with him or knows of anyone in touch with him to report it to the authorities.
It said: "The Government takes a very serious view of anyone who supports, promotes, undertakes or makes preparations to undertake armed violence, regardless of how they rationalise such violence, or where the violence takes place."
By Danson Cheong, The Straits Times, 25 Sep 2017
He was identified by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as Megat Shahdan Abdul Samad, 39.
He left Singapore in 2014 to work in the Middle East, where he is believed to have been radicalised, MHA said in a statement.
"He subsequently made his way to Syria to join ISIS' ranks. He is believed to still be with ISIS in Syria," it added yesterday.
Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam said in a Facebook post that the Internal Security Department (ISD) had been aware of Megat Shahdan's activities, and had spoken to community leaders about him.
The video was posted by Al Hayat Media Centre, a media arm of terror group Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), and shared by its South-east Asian supporters.
It shows a fighter dressed in desert fatigues, who identifies himself as "Abu Uqayl from Singapore". ISIS fighters commonly take on assumed names.
In the 3min 30sec-long video, seen by The Straits Times, a group of three fighters, including Megat Shahdan, are loading artillery rounds onto a truck in what is believed to be ISIS-held territory in the Middle East. The video was first flagged on social media sites SMRT Feedback and Observer+.
It is part of a series of propaganda videos titled Inside The Caliphate. An earlier video appealed to South-east Asian viewers to migrate to Marawi in the southern Philippines to fight for ISIS.
Speaking to the camera in English, Megat Shahdan praised fighters in "East Asia" - which includes South-east Asia - calling on them to "sacrifice all that is precious".
He then urged extremists elsewhere to join the East Asian fighters, or to travel to the Middle East to fight with ISIS fighters there.
He also addressed Britain's Prince Harry, who visited Singapore in June, saying: "To Harry, you come to Singapore and tell such stories to gain sympathy for the London terror attacks? Why don't you come here and fight us if you are man enough? So we can send you and your Apaches to hellfire."
Referring to the video, Mr Shanmugam said: "We expected this will happen some time."
He added: "Over time, we must assume more of this will happen."
He said Singapore had to think of ways to deal with the radicalisation of its citizens abroad.
ST understands that Megat Shahdan has previous drug-related and criminal convictions.
The ministry also urged anyone who is in contact with him or knows of anyone in touch with him to report it to the authorities.
It said: "The Government takes a very serious view of anyone who supports, promotes, undertakes or makes preparations to undertake armed violence, regardless of how they rationalise such violence, or where the violence takes place."
Singaporean ISIS fighter was in combat, sought to recruit family
The Straits Times, 27 Sep 2017
The Singaporean fighter who anchored a recent propaganda video by terror group Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has been fighting on its front lines since he entered Syria three years ago.
Megat Shahdan Abdul Samad, 39, suffered an injury in combat, and was deployed to areas in Iraq and Syria, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said on Tuesday, without giving further details.
It confirmed that he is the third Singaporean known to have joined ISIS in Syria and Iraq.
The other two, Haja Fakkurudeen Usman Ali and Maimunah Abdul Kadir, are believed to be still in Syria with their families. Both left for Syria in 2014.
"Their involvement in an overseas armed conflict jeopardises Singapore's security," MHA said.
"In Shahdan's case, it is compounded by the fact that he is also actively propagating ISIS' violent ideology and rallying others to engage in combat in support of ISIS. This is of particular concern as we have seen a spike in the number of self-radicalisation cases following the rise of ISIS and proliferation of its propaganda materials."
MHA issued the statement in response to media queries on Shahdan, who appeared in an ISIS video that surfaced online at the weekend under the assumed name "Abu Uqayl from Singapore". Among other things, he called on viewers to join ISIS fighters in East Asia or travel to the Middle East to fight.
The ministry had said on Sunday that Shahdan left Singapore in 2014 to work in the Middle East, where he is believed to have been radicalised. Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam also said the Internal Security Department (ISD) had been keeping tabs on Shahdan.
Yesterday, MHA released further details of Shahdan's background and how he turned radical, as well as of his continued contact with family members - and attempts to radicalise them - while there.
Shahdan grew up in Singapore, and dropped out of school at a young age. He was a secret society member with a string of drug and criminal convictions. Between 1997 and 2009, he was in and out of jail, and was also on drug supervision regimes. MHA said: "He did not hold down any stable work and took up odd jobs. He did not show any obvious signs of being religiously inclined. Nor did he show any radical tendencies."
Sometime in early 2014, Shahdan left Singapore for the Middle East. He took up different jobs in tourism and renovation, and tried unsuccessfully to start a business. "At the same time, family members who visited him there noticed that he had become more observant of his religious obligations," said MHA.
"He reportedly attended religious gatherings, and was believed to have subsequently become radicalised by ISIS' violent ideology. He told at least one of his family members of his interest to perform jihad."
In September that year, Shahdan made his way to Syria to join ISIS.
He is believed to have contacted one of his family members while he was at the Turkish-Syrian border, saying he was on his way to Syria. He later asked for the family member's prayers for his safe crossing.
MHA also disclosed that while he was in ISIS-controlled territory, Shahdan dispensed religious advice to family and friends in Singapore.
"He has expressed the hope that his family would migrate to ISIS' self-declared caliphate, as in his view, it is a sin to live in an infidel country. He has also said that he would intercede for 70 of his relatives should he achieve martyrdom, and exhorted his family members to support ISIS," it said.
"None of them is known to have responded to his overtures."
But MHA noted that Shahdan's case, as with other recent cases of radicalised Singaporeans who had to be dealt with under the Internal Security Act, illustrates the important role that family, friends or any individual who may be close to a potentially radicalised individual can play in reporting such individuals as early as possible.
"The Government continues to urge the public to do its part in countering the threats of terrorism and radicalisation," it said.
"The Government has consistently taken the view that anyone who supports, promotes or undertakes or makes preparations to undertake armed violence, regardless of how such violence is rationalised, or where such violence takes place, poses a security threat to Singapore and Singaporeans."
Latest video a sign of ISIS' focus on South-east Asia: Experts
By Danson Cheong, The Straits Times, 25 Sep 2017
The latest Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) recruitment video featuring a Singaporean fighter is a "game changer", said security experts yesterday, noting that it was evidence of the terror group's determined focus on South-east Asia and its English-speaking Muslims.
The 31/2-minute-long video, which surfaced yesterday, featured a Singaporean fighter by the assumed name "Abu Uqayl". In English, he addressed directly fighters in East Asia and elsewhere, urging them to commit violence in this region.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) identified the man as Megat Shahdan Abdul Samad, 39, who left Singapore in 2014 to work in the Middle East, where he was believed to have been radicalised.
Megat Shahdan, it is understood, has a string of criminal and drug-related offences here - including burglary convictions in 1999 and 2002.
His appearance in a recruitment video shows that he has risen up the ISIS ranks to join notable fighters from the region such as Indonesia's Bahrumsyah, said Associate Professor Bilveer Singh of the National University of Singapore.
By Danson Cheong, The Straits Times, 25 Sep 2017
The 31/2-minute-long video, which surfaced yesterday, featured a Singaporean fighter by the assumed name "Abu Uqayl". In English, he addressed directly fighters in East Asia and elsewhere, urging them to commit violence in this region.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) identified the man as Megat Shahdan Abdul Samad, 39, who left Singapore in 2014 to work in the Middle East, where he was believed to have been radicalised.
Megat Shahdan, it is understood, has a string of criminal and drug-related offences here - including burglary convictions in 1999 and 2002.
His appearance in a recruitment video shows that he has risen up the ISIS ranks to join notable fighters from the region such as Indonesia's Bahrumsyah, said Associate Professor Bilveer Singh of the National University of Singapore.
Bahrumsyah heads ISIS' South-east Asian unit, the Katibah Nusantara. It fights on the front lines and makes propaganda videos in Malay, Bahasa Indonesia and English.
"He was not chosen by accident. He's from South-east Asia, from a country where Muslims are in the minority, and which has been publicly targeted for attack," said Prof Singh, adding that the video aimed to "inspire and motivate" English-speaking Muslims in the region.
With ISIS losing ground in the Middle East, the video was also a clarion call to join the fight elsewhere, particularly in South-east Asia, where conflicts are brewing in the Philippines' Marawi city and Myanmar's Rakhine state, he added.
The video is part of a series of propaganda videos titled Inside The Caliphate. An earlier video appealed to South-east Asian viewers to migrate to Marawi in the southern Philippines to fight for ISIS.
Professor Rohan Gunaratna of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) said ISIS seeks to deepen its ideological and operational influence in South-east Asia.
"To destabilise the region, its strategy is to radicalise and militarise South-east Asians, including Singaporeans," he said, adding that the video was produced to reach out to Singaporeans in particular.
RSIS associate research fellow Remy Mahzam said the video indicates a strategic shift in language medium - likely part of a push to attract younger, English-speaking Muslims in South-east Asia.
"They no longer use only Arabic as the medium to preach or to push their agenda... They are using a language accessible to the communities here," said Mr Remy.
The video's mention of a visit by Britain's Prince Harry to Singapore in June is also Megat Shahdan's way of showing he is familiar with goings-on in Singapore, said Mr Remy.
He added that there is a risk radicalised Singaporeans could see Megat Shahdan as an "ideologue or someone they can emulate", which could prompt them to carry out lone-wolf attacks here.
The terror threat facing Singapore is at its highest level in recent times. Since 2015, at least 17 Singaporeans have been dealt with under the Internal Security Act for terror-related activities. It is estimated that over 1,000 South-east Asians have travelled to the Middle East to fight under ISIS. Among them are at least two groups of Singaporeans - excluding Megat Shahdan.
In a Facebook post yesterday, Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam said that the Internal Security Department has thus far moved early to deal with those who showed signs of radicalisation in Singapore. But he noted that Megat Shahdan is outside Singapore.
"Over time, we must assume more of this will happen. We have to think of ways of dealing with radicalisation of Singaporeans that could take place outside Singapore, particularly in countries where the possibilities of radicalisation are higher," he said.
"He was not chosen by accident. He's from South-east Asia, from a country where Muslims are in the minority, and which has been publicly targeted for attack," said Prof Singh, adding that the video aimed to "inspire and motivate" English-speaking Muslims in the region.
With ISIS losing ground in the Middle East, the video was also a clarion call to join the fight elsewhere, particularly in South-east Asia, where conflicts are brewing in the Philippines' Marawi city and Myanmar's Rakhine state, he added.
The video is part of a series of propaganda videos titled Inside The Caliphate. An earlier video appealed to South-east Asian viewers to migrate to Marawi in the southern Philippines to fight for ISIS.
Professor Rohan Gunaratna of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) said ISIS seeks to deepen its ideological and operational influence in South-east Asia.
"To destabilise the region, its strategy is to radicalise and militarise South-east Asians, including Singaporeans," he said, adding that the video was produced to reach out to Singaporeans in particular.
RSIS associate research fellow Remy Mahzam said the video indicates a strategic shift in language medium - likely part of a push to attract younger, English-speaking Muslims in South-east Asia.
"They no longer use only Arabic as the medium to preach or to push their agenda... They are using a language accessible to the communities here," said Mr Remy.
The video's mention of a visit by Britain's Prince Harry to Singapore in June is also Megat Shahdan's way of showing he is familiar with goings-on in Singapore, said Mr Remy.
He added that there is a risk radicalised Singaporeans could see Megat Shahdan as an "ideologue or someone they can emulate", which could prompt them to carry out lone-wolf attacks here.
The terror threat facing Singapore is at its highest level in recent times. Since 2015, at least 17 Singaporeans have been dealt with under the Internal Security Act for terror-related activities. It is estimated that over 1,000 South-east Asians have travelled to the Middle East to fight under ISIS. Among them are at least two groups of Singaporeans - excluding Megat Shahdan.
In a Facebook post yesterday, Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam said that the Internal Security Department has thus far moved early to deal with those who showed signs of radicalisation in Singapore. But he noted that Megat Shahdan is outside Singapore.
"Over time, we must assume more of this will happen. We have to think of ways of dealing with radicalisation of Singaporeans that could take place outside Singapore, particularly in countries where the possibilities of radicalisation are higher," he said.
Mufti rebuts ISIS video's distortion of religious texts
He urges Muslims to be wary of such destructive messages
By Nur Asyiqin Mohamad Salleh, The Straits Times, 30 Sep 2017
Singapore's top Muslim leader has called on his community to be wary of messages that misquote the Quran as well as prophetic sayings and traditions to justify acts of violence.
In his Friday sermon delivered at all mosques yesterday, Mufti Fatris Bakaram firmly refuted messages in the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria's recent propaganda video featuring Singaporean fighter Megat Shahdan Abdul Samad, 39, and highlighted how they have grossly distorted Islamic teachings.
Shahdan, who has been with the terror group in Iraq and Syria since 2014, had urged viewers to join him on ISIS' path of destruction, calling this "the path of the prophets".
He had also claimed Muslims must be hostile to believers of other faiths, and said he had answered the call for jihad. He also believed that anyone who followed ISIS and died fighting would die a martyr. "All of this is completely wrong. Islam has never considered the killing of innocent lives as jihad," the Mufti said. "Islam does not allow for violence and oppression to prevail, places of worship to be destructed and heritage sites to be destroyed and blown up."
Those who participated in these crimes are under the "skewed impression" they will die as martyrs. Even worse, they justify these heinous acts by misquoting Islam, the Quran and prophetic traditions.
"It is obvious that what is being committed by ISIS is not just a crime towards Islam, but towards the global community," he added.
Dr Fatris made clear that ISIS' actions are fundamentally against the ethics and guidelines taught by Prophet Muhammad.
He said: "We need to ensure that ourselves, our families and beloved community have the religious resilience to challenge the messages that violate Islamic teachings and endanger the lives of humanity."
He also said it is every Muslim's responsibility to understand religious texts well, and not uncritically accept information from unknown sources without verification.
"Failure to comprehend the context of religious texts can lead to problematic and inaccurate interpretations," he said, citing how some verses had a specific context. "Applying these texts that are meant to be specific... to any situation is considered a deviance."
He urges Muslims to be wary of such destructive messages
By Nur Asyiqin Mohamad Salleh, The Straits Times, 30 Sep 2017
Singapore's top Muslim leader has called on his community to be wary of messages that misquote the Quran as well as prophetic sayings and traditions to justify acts of violence.
In his Friday sermon delivered at all mosques yesterday, Mufti Fatris Bakaram firmly refuted messages in the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria's recent propaganda video featuring Singaporean fighter Megat Shahdan Abdul Samad, 39, and highlighted how they have grossly distorted Islamic teachings.
Shahdan, who has been with the terror group in Iraq and Syria since 2014, had urged viewers to join him on ISIS' path of destruction, calling this "the path of the prophets".
He had also claimed Muslims must be hostile to believers of other faiths, and said he had answered the call for jihad. He also believed that anyone who followed ISIS and died fighting would die a martyr. "All of this is completely wrong. Islam has never considered the killing of innocent lives as jihad," the Mufti said. "Islam does not allow for violence and oppression to prevail, places of worship to be destructed and heritage sites to be destroyed and blown up."
Those who participated in these crimes are under the "skewed impression" they will die as martyrs. Even worse, they justify these heinous acts by misquoting Islam, the Quran and prophetic traditions.
"It is obvious that what is being committed by ISIS is not just a crime towards Islam, but towards the global community," he added.
Dr Fatris made clear that ISIS' actions are fundamentally against the ethics and guidelines taught by Prophet Muhammad.
He said: "We need to ensure that ourselves, our families and beloved community have the religious resilience to challenge the messages that violate Islamic teachings and endanger the lives of humanity."
He also said it is every Muslim's responsibility to understand religious texts well, and not uncritically accept information from unknown sources without verification.
"Failure to comprehend the context of religious texts can lead to problematic and inaccurate interpretations," he said, citing how some verses had a specific context. "Applying these texts that are meant to be specific... to any situation is considered a deviance."
Dr Fatris urged Muslims to find out where and from whom family members get religious instruction, to protect them from deviant ways.
The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) called Shahdan's claims "blasphemous and unIslamic, as it taints and distorts the intentions of our prophets to suit ISIS' violent narratives". It said the video encouraging and justifying violence against non-Muslims "goes strongly against the Quranic principle of reciprocating peace and harmony".
Shahdan also parroted ISIS' doctrine of encouraging Muslims to migrate to "Islamic territories", it said.
"Credible Muslim scholars worldwide have always maintained that Muslims should continue to be contributing citizens and co-exist harmoniously with other communities in diverse, multi-religious societies," it said, adding that scholars over the ages have said there is no need for Muslims to migrate if they can practise their faith where they live.
Muis noted that the community is privileged to have the Administration of Muslim Law Act, which helps guide, support and facilitate Muslims' religious life in Singapore.
Yesterday, community group Perdaus also rejected the video's expression of violence and hatred.
Stressing the need to learn religion from accredited teachers, it said it was important to be on guard against subversive elements that preach extremism, hatred and discrimination of others.
Stressing the need to learn religion from accredited teachers, it said it was important to be on guard against subversive elements that preach extremism, hatred and discrimination of others.
* Singaporean ISIS fighter appears in another ISIS video, shown executing a man
In graphic clip, he and two other men are seen shooting three men at close range
By Joanna Seow, The Sunday Times, 31 Dec 2017
A second propaganda video by terror group Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) featuring Singaporean Megat Shahdan Abdul Samad has surfaced.
This time, he goes beyond rallying fighters to join ISIS, which is based largely in the desert along the Iraqi-Syrian border. In the graphic video, he and two other men dressed in military fatigues are shown executing three men by shooting them.
Shahdan, 39, was last known to have appeared in a 3 1/2-minute ISIS clip in September, in which he praised East Asian fighters, called for extremists to join the terror group's efforts in East Asia or the Middle East, and challenged Britain's Prince Harry to a fight.
The newly surfaced clip, which has been shared on social media and messaging groups, is more than eight minutes long. It shows footage of bombings and vehicle attacks, interspersed with scenes at places like stadiums and parties.
Towards the end of the video, Shahdan is featured speaking in English, telling followers to strengthen themselves and "slay the enemies of Allah wherever you can find them", before shooting a kneeling man.
Security experts who spoke to The Sunday Times believe the video to be authentic. It is believed to have been first posted on Friday.
When contacted yesterday, the Ministry of Home Affairs said it has "no further updates on this video".
It is the first known video of a Singaporean participating in an execution for ISIS, which suggests that Shahdan is in some kind of leadership role, said S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) senior analyst Jasminder Singh.
Dr Kumar Ramakrishna of RSIS said this latest development drives home in a very strong way the dangers of being indoctrinated with extremist ideology.
"Singaporeans may think they are educated, but even people in this particular day and age, given exposure to extremist ideology, can be influenced to such an extent... where they can so dehumanise other people not seen to be part of their circle that they can just murder them in cold blood," he said.
He added: "It shows why extremist ideology is so dangerous and has to continue to be countered."
Another man whom experts believe to be South-east Asian but not from Singapore is also featured in the video.
Mr Singh said this suggests that the South-east Asian fighters have most likely regrouped, as Shahdan did not appear with other South-east Asians in the previous video.
Shahdan, who had been a secret society member in Singapore with a string of drug and criminal convictions, went to the Middle East to work in 2014, where he was believed to have been radicalised. He later made his way to Syria to join ISIS.
Home Affairs and Law Minister K. Shanmugam said after the previous video was released that the Internal Security Department had been keeping tabs on Shahdan.
Professor Rohan Gunaratna, head of the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research in Singapore, said the new video is specifically timed to incite attacks at New Year celebrations.
"At a time when ISIS is shrinking in its battle space in Iraq and Syria, it is sending a message that it is still capable of mounting attacks and terrorising the public," he said.
"With its core depleting and global expansion, ISIS will focus on propaganda in the coming months and years."
The Singaporean terrorist and ISIS in South-east Asia
By Rohan Gunaratna, Published The Straits Times, 28 Sep 2017
With shrinking space in Iraq and Syria, the self-styled Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is developing a grand strategy of global expansion.
ISIS' Al-Hayat media centre released on Sept 23 a propaganda video with Singaporean Megat Shahdan Abdul Samad urging Muslims to emigrate to East Asia for jihad. The three-minute video, the fourth episode in the Inside The Caliphate series, identified Shahdan as "Abu 'Uqayl", rallying fighters in East Asia and then calling on Muslims elsewhere to join them, if not in that territory, then Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Libya or West Africa.
With its decline in Iraq and Syria, ISIS is entering a new phase where the group is focusing on building its provinces in the Middle East, Asia, Africa and the Caucasus. The East Asia division of ISIS in the Philippines suffered a setback when it besieged Marawi, the Islamic city in southern Philippines. With the terror group creating a capability in the Asean member state, with a view to targeting states elsewhere in South-east and North-east Asia, the next phase of the ISIS threat can be managed by enhancing cooperation among regional governments and national security agencies.
With the creation of the East Asia division in the Philippines and its siege of Marawi, ISIS plans to deepen its ideological and operational influence in South-east Asia. To destabilise the region, ISIS' strategy is to radicalise and militarise South-east Asians, including Singaporeans.
Speaking in English with a South-east Asian accent, Shahdan addressed the "mujahideen in East Asia" and assured them of either "victory or shahadah (martyrdom)".
The ISIS video in English is designed to reach out to Singaporeans and others in the region who speak or understand the language.
Shahdan went on to urge "the believers in the four corners of the world" to join the ranks of the mujahideen in East Asia and inflict "black days upon the crusaders", or "make your way to Sham (Syria), Khurasan (Afghanistan), Yemen, West Africa or Libya", as "the fighting there is only beginning to intensify".
The 39-year-old Singaporean was recruited in the Middle East by ISIS and serves in Syria today.
Shahdan then challenged Britain's Prince Harry, a former Apache pilot in Afghanistan who visited Singapore in June, to come and fight ISIS. He directed a message to Prince Harry: "To Harry, you come to Singapore and tell such stories to gain sympathy for the London terror attacks? Why don't you come here and fight us if you're man enough, so that we can send you and your Apaches to hellfire."
This is the first time a Singaporean has been featured in ISIS propaganda. The Ministry of Home Affairs has confirmed in a statement on Sunday that security agencies have been monitoring his activities and had briefed community leaders about him. He left Singapore in 2014 to work in the Middle East, where he is believed to have been radicalised. "He subsequently made his way to Syria to join ISIS' ranks. He is believed to still be with ISIS in Syria," said the ministry.
The news should be a warning to the region of the intentions of ISIS. The ISIS propaganda video will not alarm South-east Asians but make them vigilant of the threat to their countries and regions. It will strengthen the resolve of governments to work together to secure the region. Unlike some leaders in the Middle East, South-east Asian leaders have taken a firm stand against ISIS. In addition, the Home Affairs and Defence ministries are preparing the intelligence and direct action capabilities to counter and eliminate the ISIS threat.
There is a shift in threat from the core to the periphery. ISIS is suffering in its heartland, but it is expanding in regions, especially those with significant Muslim populations. ISIS' strategy has always been to use locals to recruit locals and entice them into joining the terror group. Those who have travelled to fight in Syria and Iraq are persuaded to reach out to their own countrymen with the intention of either facilitating their travel to conflict zones to fight or precipitating attacks at home.
Singapore is a prized target of both ISIS and Al Qaeda-centric terrorists. Nonetheless, Singaporeans, who are raised to treasure harmony, are resilient to ISIS propaganda. Its message has no wide appeal among Singaporeans who value moderation, toleration and coexistence. Having understood the harm ISIS has caused elsewhere, the Singapore Government and community leaders, especially Muslim leaders, have responded decisively to the threat.
The writer is professor of security studies and head of the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, a constituent unit of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University. This article first appeared in RSIS Commentary.
By Rohan Gunaratna, Published The Straits Times, 28 Sep 2017
ISIS' Al-Hayat media centre released on Sept 23 a propaganda video with Singaporean Megat Shahdan Abdul Samad urging Muslims to emigrate to East Asia for jihad. The three-minute video, the fourth episode in the Inside The Caliphate series, identified Shahdan as "Abu 'Uqayl", rallying fighters in East Asia and then calling on Muslims elsewhere to join them, if not in that territory, then Afghanistan, Pakistan, Yemen, Libya or West Africa.
With its decline in Iraq and Syria, ISIS is entering a new phase where the group is focusing on building its provinces in the Middle East, Asia, Africa and the Caucasus. The East Asia division of ISIS in the Philippines suffered a setback when it besieged Marawi, the Islamic city in southern Philippines. With the terror group creating a capability in the Asean member state, with a view to targeting states elsewhere in South-east and North-east Asia, the next phase of the ISIS threat can be managed by enhancing cooperation among regional governments and national security agencies.
With the creation of the East Asia division in the Philippines and its siege of Marawi, ISIS plans to deepen its ideological and operational influence in South-east Asia. To destabilise the region, ISIS' strategy is to radicalise and militarise South-east Asians, including Singaporeans.
Speaking in English with a South-east Asian accent, Shahdan addressed the "mujahideen in East Asia" and assured them of either "victory or shahadah (martyrdom)".
The ISIS video in English is designed to reach out to Singaporeans and others in the region who speak or understand the language.
Shahdan went on to urge "the believers in the four corners of the world" to join the ranks of the mujahideen in East Asia and inflict "black days upon the crusaders", or "make your way to Sham (Syria), Khurasan (Afghanistan), Yemen, West Africa or Libya", as "the fighting there is only beginning to intensify".
The 39-year-old Singaporean was recruited in the Middle East by ISIS and serves in Syria today.
Shahdan then challenged Britain's Prince Harry, a former Apache pilot in Afghanistan who visited Singapore in June, to come and fight ISIS. He directed a message to Prince Harry: "To Harry, you come to Singapore and tell such stories to gain sympathy for the London terror attacks? Why don't you come here and fight us if you're man enough, so that we can send you and your Apaches to hellfire."
This is the first time a Singaporean has been featured in ISIS propaganda. The Ministry of Home Affairs has confirmed in a statement on Sunday that security agencies have been monitoring his activities and had briefed community leaders about him. He left Singapore in 2014 to work in the Middle East, where he is believed to have been radicalised. "He subsequently made his way to Syria to join ISIS' ranks. He is believed to still be with ISIS in Syria," said the ministry.
The news should be a warning to the region of the intentions of ISIS. The ISIS propaganda video will not alarm South-east Asians but make them vigilant of the threat to their countries and regions. It will strengthen the resolve of governments to work together to secure the region. Unlike some leaders in the Middle East, South-east Asian leaders have taken a firm stand against ISIS. In addition, the Home Affairs and Defence ministries are preparing the intelligence and direct action capabilities to counter and eliminate the ISIS threat.
There is a shift in threat from the core to the periphery. ISIS is suffering in its heartland, but it is expanding in regions, especially those with significant Muslim populations. ISIS' strategy has always been to use locals to recruit locals and entice them into joining the terror group. Those who have travelled to fight in Syria and Iraq are persuaded to reach out to their own countrymen with the intention of either facilitating their travel to conflict zones to fight or precipitating attacks at home.
Singapore is a prized target of both ISIS and Al Qaeda-centric terrorists. Nonetheless, Singaporeans, who are raised to treasure harmony, are resilient to ISIS propaganda. Its message has no wide appeal among Singaporeans who value moderation, toleration and coexistence. Having understood the harm ISIS has caused elsewhere, the Singapore Government and community leaders, especially Muslim leaders, have responded decisively to the threat.
The writer is professor of security studies and head of the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, a constituent unit of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University. This article first appeared in RSIS Commentary.
First Singaporean in an ISIS video: 3 questions
1. Why feature a Singaporean?
Although ISIS put a Singaporean face to its propaganda, it is unlikely to have much impact as a recruitment tool
By Nur Asyiqin Mohamad Salleh, The Sunday Times, 1 Oct 2017
Dressed in military fatigues, and vaulting onto a truck loaded with artillery rounds, Megat Shahdan Abdul Samad last weekend surfaced online as the first Singaporean to anchor one of the slickly produced propaganda videos of the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
In it, the 39-year-old praises East Asian fighters, calls for extremists to join the terror group's efforts in East Asia or the Middle East, and challenges Britain's Prince Harry - a former Apache pilot in the British army, who paid a visit to Singapore in June - to a fight.
"Why don't you come here and fight us if you are man enough? So we can send you and your Apaches to hellfire," says Shahdan, who is identified in the video as "Abu Uqayl from Singapore".
The 3 1/2-minute clip may be high in machismo, but analysts and community leaders say although ISIS may have put a Singaporean face to its propaganda, it is unlikely to have much impact in getting people here to rally around the group - although it is also impossible to rule out lone individuals being attracted by the video.
They point out that only a small number of Singaporeans have been detained for supporting ISIS despite its steady onslaught of online propaganda, compared with the hundreds who have been flagged as ISIS supporters in Malaysia and Indonesia.
And just three Singaporeans are known to have made their way to Syria and Iraq to join the extremist group: Shahdan, who has been fighting on the front lines since he entered Syria three years ago, is one of them, as well as Haja Fakkurudeen Usman Ali and Maimunah Abdul Kadir, who left for Syria in 2014 and are believed to still be there with their families.
"The level of support and empathy for ISIS in Singapore is very low," said S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) senior analyst Jasminder Singh.
And instead of tempting more people here down the path of radicalisation, the clip may well have the effect of drawing disapproval, he added. "I doubt the video will have much traction in Singapore.
"If anything, Singaporeans in general and Singapore Muslims in particular will be greatly shocked at the video - that a Malay/Muslim can betray the nation and the Malay community in order to threaten Singapore."
Professor Rohan Gunaratna, head of the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, believes this is because Singaporeans are resilient enough to withstand ISIS' propaganda offensive.
"Its message will not resonate among Singaporeans as Singaporeans value moderation, tolerance and coexistence," he said.
These have been key messages put out by political and religious leaders here, and ties between the different racial and religious groups are constantly tended to.
This means extremist ideology does not find a foothold as easily in Singapore as it may in neighbouring countries, where fault lines have been stoked in the name of politics, or in the West, where Muslim minorities feel displaced and downtrodden.
Universiti Sains Malaysia professor Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid said Singapore has been consistent in combating religious extremism. This has applied not just to Islam, but to other religions as well, such as in the case of foreign Christian preachers recently denied entry to Singapore because of Islamophobic remarks they had made.
And the country has been successful in portraying itself as a staunchly secular state "without the political need to appease its religious communities, Muslim or otherwise, unlike the cases of Malaysia and Indonesia, where Muslim support for the government is a crucial factor in ensuring its electoral survival", he said.
Dr Fauzi, a former visiting fellow at both RSIS and the ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute, added: "Shahdan being a Singaporean rather than a Malaysian or Indonesian would probably garner more attention... If a Singaporean could fall for ISIS, what more Malaysians and Indonesians?"
SYMBOLIC RATHER THAN MARKETING TOOL
In fact, analysts believe the video will serve more as a symbol and a signal of ISIS' plans moving forward than a successful marketing tool to lure more Singaporeans into joining the group.
RSIS associate research fellow Remy Mahzam sees the English-language clip as a strategic shift in the group's media campaign. "It is a stepped-up attempt to reach out to a younger and better-educated audience in a predominantly Malay/ Muslim region," he said.
He added that Shahdan is portrayed as a skilled combatant who plays a significant role in the expansion of ISIS' so-called caliphate, projecting him as an influencer, much like slain Indonesian militant Bahrumsyah - who headed ISIS' South-east Asian unit, the Katibah Nusantara - and Malaysian militant Zainuri Kamaruddin, who appeared in an ISIS video last year threatening attacks in his homeland before being killed.
Meanwhile Mr Singh noted that Malaysian and Indonesian fighters have for years cropped up in the group's propaganda videos because they constituted a sizeable source of ISIS foreign fighters, and come from the region's two leading Muslim nations.
To feature a Singaporean - from a country which is only about 15 per cent Muslim - sends the signal that ISIS can reach out to a citizen from a successful and developed country that is also a friend of the West, he said, noting that Shahdan, unlike other South-east Asian fighters featured in previous videos, speaks fluent English.
This was echoed by Associate Professor Bilveer Singh of the National University of Singapore.
In Shahdan, he said, ISIS must have found an ideal Singaporean to champion its propaganda: a Malay/ Muslim who speaks English and grew up in a country known for its multiracialism.
"The video is, for ISIS, of great symbolic and propaganda value, especially vis-a-vis Singapore and what the Republic stands for," said Prof Singh.
The group's strategists, he added, are trying to demonstrate that they can penetrate any country - poor or rich, Muslim-majority or Muslim-minority - and succeed in recruiting a fighter who is willing to threaten its enemies.
"The use of a Singaporean is for political and propagandistic purpose, telling the Singapore Government and Singaporeans that 'we have got one of yours on my side' - and this is symbolically a victory for ISIS," said Prof Singh.
And, he added, at a time when the group is struggling to keep hold of its territory in Syria and Iraq, it is finding whatever means it can to openly threaten the countries it regards as enemies.
"Singapore has fit this bill for a long time. Hence, ISIS' belief that it was opportune to use a Singaporean, and believing that it will come as a shock - as the message would be to the world at large through the English medium," said Prof Singh.
It also serves to tell Singapore that it is on ISIS' radar, he added, warning: "It may well be planning an attack on Singapore, hence the video with Shahdan as the star."
If there is a silver lining to the video, it is perhaps that it is a wake-up call to Singaporeans and others in South-east Asia to be more vigilant of the threat to their country and the region.
And the country has been successful in portraying itself as a staunchly secular state "without the political need to appease its religious communities, Muslim or otherwise, unlike the cases of Malaysia and Indonesia, where Muslim support for the government is a crucial factor in ensuring its electoral survival", he said.
Dr Fauzi, a former visiting fellow at both RSIS and the ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute, added: "Shahdan being a Singaporean rather than a Malaysian or Indonesian would probably garner more attention... If a Singaporean could fall for ISIS, what more Malaysians and Indonesians?"
SYMBOLIC RATHER THAN MARKETING TOOL
In fact, analysts believe the video will serve more as a symbol and a signal of ISIS' plans moving forward than a successful marketing tool to lure more Singaporeans into joining the group.
RSIS associate research fellow Remy Mahzam sees the English-language clip as a strategic shift in the group's media campaign. "It is a stepped-up attempt to reach out to a younger and better-educated audience in a predominantly Malay/ Muslim region," he said.
He added that Shahdan is portrayed as a skilled combatant who plays a significant role in the expansion of ISIS' so-called caliphate, projecting him as an influencer, much like slain Indonesian militant Bahrumsyah - who headed ISIS' South-east Asian unit, the Katibah Nusantara - and Malaysian militant Zainuri Kamaruddin, who appeared in an ISIS video last year threatening attacks in his homeland before being killed.
Meanwhile Mr Singh noted that Malaysian and Indonesian fighters have for years cropped up in the group's propaganda videos because they constituted a sizeable source of ISIS foreign fighters, and come from the region's two leading Muslim nations.
To feature a Singaporean - from a country which is only about 15 per cent Muslim - sends the signal that ISIS can reach out to a citizen from a successful and developed country that is also a friend of the West, he said, noting that Shahdan, unlike other South-east Asian fighters featured in previous videos, speaks fluent English.
This was echoed by Associate Professor Bilveer Singh of the National University of Singapore.
In Shahdan, he said, ISIS must have found an ideal Singaporean to champion its propaganda: a Malay/ Muslim who speaks English and grew up in a country known for its multiracialism.
"The video is, for ISIS, of great symbolic and propaganda value, especially vis-a-vis Singapore and what the Republic stands for," said Prof Singh.
The group's strategists, he added, are trying to demonstrate that they can penetrate any country - poor or rich, Muslim-majority or Muslim-minority - and succeed in recruiting a fighter who is willing to threaten its enemies.
"The use of a Singaporean is for political and propagandistic purpose, telling the Singapore Government and Singaporeans that 'we have got one of yours on my side' - and this is symbolically a victory for ISIS," said Prof Singh.
And, he added, at a time when the group is struggling to keep hold of its territory in Syria and Iraq, it is finding whatever means it can to openly threaten the countries it regards as enemies.
"Singapore has fit this bill for a long time. Hence, ISIS' belief that it was opportune to use a Singaporean, and believing that it will come as a shock - as the message would be to the world at large through the English medium," said Prof Singh.
It also serves to tell Singapore that it is on ISIS' radar, he added, warning: "It may well be planning an attack on Singapore, hence the video with Shahdan as the star."
If there is a silver lining to the video, it is perhaps that it is a wake-up call to Singaporeans and others in South-east Asia to be more vigilant of the threat to their country and the region.
2. The state of terror threat?
From returning ISIS fighters to brewing conflict in Rakhine, the region faces a multitude of challenges
By Danson Cheong, The Sunday Times, 1 Oct 2017
With a steely gaze, Singaporean Megat Shahdan Abdul Samad calls on ISIS sympathisers around the world to make their way to East Asia and fight with militants there, in the video released last week.
He urges them to "inflict black days upon the crusaders".
Security analysts say it is a clear sign that South-east Asia is firmly in the cross hairs of ISIS and other such extremist groups.
ISIS has been losing ground in the Middle East, steadily beaten back by an international coalition. It is barely hanging on to its sole remaining stronghold of Raqqa in Syria. However, experts have long warned that the group's inevitable defeat there would not spell the end of its menace.
The latest video, part of the series titled Inside The Caliphate, shows ISIS is preparing to continue operating after being forced out of the Middle East, Professor Rohan Gunaratna of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) pointed out.
"The news should be a warning to the region of future ISIS intentions. Although ISIS is suffering in its core, it is expanding in the regions, especially those with big Muslim populations," he said.
He added that the group intends to "deepen its ideological and operational influence in South-east Asia". So there is good reason for Singapore to sit up and take notice.
It is also estimated that over 1,000 South-east Asians have travelled to the Middle East to fight for ISIS - and these battle-hardened fighters form a credible threat when they return to their homes or join existing conflicts in the region.
ISIS has already made moves in the region, a fact acknowledged by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean on Tuesday at a security conference.
"The conflict in Marawi, South Philippines, the seizure of chemicals which can be used to make bombs in Java, and the arrest of ISIS supporters in Malaysia remind us that ISIS and its affiliates are also active in our neighbourhood," he said.
CONFLICTS IN THE REGION
In the southern Philippine city of Marawi, ISIS has established a foothold with its local affiliates, led by militants Isnilon Hapilon and the Maute brothers.
The conflict began in May, when hundreds of armed extremists flying the black ISIS flag overran the city following a disastrous attempt by security forces to arrest Hapilon.
Despite losing ground to the Philippine armed forces, militants there have defied predictions and proven difficult to root out, said RSIS senior analyst Jasminder Singh, who believes that the conflict in Marawi will continue for some time to come.
"As the Philippine government is not in a position to dislodge the pro-ISIS fighters, not only is the conflict likely to persist, there is also the danger that it may spread to other parts of Mindanao where ISIS is influential," said Mr Singh.
Even if ISIS is rooted out of Marawi, the violence will probably erupt "elsewhere in the Philippines and possibly elsewhere in South-east Asia, in the form of an attempt at a mass casualty attack", said Jakarta-based Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict director Sidney Jones.
PROBLEMS IN RAKHINE STATE
Another area that worries security officials is the brewing crisis in Myanmar's Rakhine state, where a crackdown by the Myanmar army has left hundreds dead and sparked an exodus of over 500,000 Muslim Rohingya to Bangladesh.
The army had carried out "clearance operations" in response to attacks by Rohingya militants from the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (Arsa).
The fear is that refugee camps in Bangladesh could become fertile recruiting grounds for terror groups, and the conflict could also attract foreign fighters.
ISIS has routinely said, through its online publication Dabiq, that it plans to establish a base in Bangladesh to launch revenge attacks on the Myanmar government over its treatment of the Rohingya.
Other extremist groups such as Al-Qaeda already have solidarity with the Rohingya, noted retired Bangladeshi Major-General A. N. M. Muniruzzaman in an RSIS commentary last week.
Indonesian right-wing group, the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), also opened registration for 1,200 volunteers to join the fight in Myanmar.
"The possibility of prolonged ethnic conflict in Myanmar might create a hotbed of terror as foreign fighters set eyes on the region," said General Muniruzzaman, president of the Bangladesh Institute for Peace and Security Studies.
Ms Jones pointed out that "lots of Indonesians and Malaysians would love to go and fight" in Myanmar, but there has been no channel into the country.
"It's critical to ensure that such channels don't open up in the refugee camps in Bangladesh, so the quicker there are systematic aid efforts there by experienced international agencies, the better," she said.
THREAT OF RETURNING FIGHTERS
Returning fighters from the Middle East are also likely to raise the threat level in the region, said Mr Singh.
They would be battle-hardened, fortified ideologically, and linked to a closely knit extremist network, he said.
"The sheer number of South-east Asians who have travelled to Syria and Iraq is almost more than 10 times the number that travelled to Afghanistan," he said, referring to fighters who travelled to Afghanistan in the 1980s to fight with the mujahideen against the invading Soviets.
Whether these fighters return to their home countries, go to a new combat zone, or to the southern Philippines, will be the next key threat facing the region, he said.
The recruitment of fighters foreign to the region, and radicalisation of natives here will also cause the threat level to "peak", said Prof Gunaratna, adding that security and intelligence agencies need to work together across borders.
"They need to create a common intelligence platform and share and exchange vital intelligence and learn each other's good practices to fight the growing threat," he said.
From returning ISIS fighters to brewing conflict in Rakhine, the region faces a multitude of challenges
By Danson Cheong, The Sunday Times, 1 Oct 2017
With a steely gaze, Singaporean Megat Shahdan Abdul Samad calls on ISIS sympathisers around the world to make their way to East Asia and fight with militants there, in the video released last week.
He urges them to "inflict black days upon the crusaders".
Security analysts say it is a clear sign that South-east Asia is firmly in the cross hairs of ISIS and other such extremist groups.
ISIS has been losing ground in the Middle East, steadily beaten back by an international coalition. It is barely hanging on to its sole remaining stronghold of Raqqa in Syria. However, experts have long warned that the group's inevitable defeat there would not spell the end of its menace.
The latest video, part of the series titled Inside The Caliphate, shows ISIS is preparing to continue operating after being forced out of the Middle East, Professor Rohan Gunaratna of the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS) pointed out.
"The news should be a warning to the region of future ISIS intentions. Although ISIS is suffering in its core, it is expanding in the regions, especially those with big Muslim populations," he said.
He added that the group intends to "deepen its ideological and operational influence in South-east Asia". So there is good reason for Singapore to sit up and take notice.
It is also estimated that over 1,000 South-east Asians have travelled to the Middle East to fight for ISIS - and these battle-hardened fighters form a credible threat when they return to their homes or join existing conflicts in the region.
ISIS has already made moves in the region, a fact acknowledged by Deputy Prime Minister Teo Chee Hean on Tuesday at a security conference.
"The conflict in Marawi, South Philippines, the seizure of chemicals which can be used to make bombs in Java, and the arrest of ISIS supporters in Malaysia remind us that ISIS and its affiliates are also active in our neighbourhood," he said.
CONFLICTS IN THE REGION
In the southern Philippine city of Marawi, ISIS has established a foothold with its local affiliates, led by militants Isnilon Hapilon and the Maute brothers.
The conflict began in May, when hundreds of armed extremists flying the black ISIS flag overran the city following a disastrous attempt by security forces to arrest Hapilon.
Despite losing ground to the Philippine armed forces, militants there have defied predictions and proven difficult to root out, said RSIS senior analyst Jasminder Singh, who believes that the conflict in Marawi will continue for some time to come.
"As the Philippine government is not in a position to dislodge the pro-ISIS fighters, not only is the conflict likely to persist, there is also the danger that it may spread to other parts of Mindanao where ISIS is influential," said Mr Singh.
Even if ISIS is rooted out of Marawi, the violence will probably erupt "elsewhere in the Philippines and possibly elsewhere in South-east Asia, in the form of an attempt at a mass casualty attack", said Jakarta-based Institute for Policy Analysis of Conflict director Sidney Jones.
PROBLEMS IN RAKHINE STATE
Another area that worries security officials is the brewing crisis in Myanmar's Rakhine state, where a crackdown by the Myanmar army has left hundreds dead and sparked an exodus of over 500,000 Muslim Rohingya to Bangladesh.
The army had carried out "clearance operations" in response to attacks by Rohingya militants from the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (Arsa).
The fear is that refugee camps in Bangladesh could become fertile recruiting grounds for terror groups, and the conflict could also attract foreign fighters.
ISIS has routinely said, through its online publication Dabiq, that it plans to establish a base in Bangladesh to launch revenge attacks on the Myanmar government over its treatment of the Rohingya.
Other extremist groups such as Al-Qaeda already have solidarity with the Rohingya, noted retired Bangladeshi Major-General A. N. M. Muniruzzaman in an RSIS commentary last week.
Indonesian right-wing group, the Islamic Defenders Front (FPI), also opened registration for 1,200 volunteers to join the fight in Myanmar.
"The possibility of prolonged ethnic conflict in Myanmar might create a hotbed of terror as foreign fighters set eyes on the region," said General Muniruzzaman, president of the Bangladesh Institute for Peace and Security Studies.
Ms Jones pointed out that "lots of Indonesians and Malaysians would love to go and fight" in Myanmar, but there has been no channel into the country.
"It's critical to ensure that such channels don't open up in the refugee camps in Bangladesh, so the quicker there are systematic aid efforts there by experienced international agencies, the better," she said.
THREAT OF RETURNING FIGHTERS
Returning fighters from the Middle East are also likely to raise the threat level in the region, said Mr Singh.
They would be battle-hardened, fortified ideologically, and linked to a closely knit extremist network, he said.
"The sheer number of South-east Asians who have travelled to Syria and Iraq is almost more than 10 times the number that travelled to Afghanistan," he said, referring to fighters who travelled to Afghanistan in the 1980s to fight with the mujahideen against the invading Soviets.
Whether these fighters return to their home countries, go to a new combat zone, or to the southern Philippines, will be the next key threat facing the region, he said.
The recruitment of fighters foreign to the region, and radicalisation of natives here will also cause the threat level to "peak", said Prof Gunaratna, adding that security and intelligence agencies need to work together across borders.
"They need to create a common intelligence platform and share and exchange vital intelligence and learn each other's good practices to fight the growing threat," he said.
3. What can be done?
Experts suggest targeted efforts to engage vulnerable workers and students abroad, and people who may feel marginalised
By Nur Asyiqin Mohamad Salleh, The Sunday Times, 1 Oct 2017
Security experts say Megat Shahdan Abdul Samad's case illustrates the limitations governments face when it comes to the radicalisation of citizens living abroad.
Shahdan moved to the Middle East in early 2014, and some time during his stay there he was radicalised. In a matter of months, he would be on his way to join the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), and would spend the next three years or so fighting on the front lines in Iraq and Syria.
Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam, in Facebook remarks last week on Shahdan's appearance in an ISIS propaganda video, said the Internal Security Department (ISD) had been aware of his activities.
"So far, ISD has moved early, dealing with those who showed signs of radicalisation, in Singapore. This man, Abu Uqayl, is outside Singapore," he said, using the name Shahdan is identified by in the video.
"And over time, we must assume more of this will happen. We have to think of ways of dealing with radicalisation of Singaporeans, that could take place outside Singapore, particularly in countries where the possibilities of radicalisation are higher."
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) told Insight that it is studying this.
It is very difficult to monitor and counter overseas radicalisation, said Associate Professor Bilveer Singh of the National University of Singapore.
"While Singapore is good at trying to stop its citizens from being radicalised at home, it faces an Everest-like challenge when trying to stop people like (Shahdan) being radicalised abroad, what's more in the Middle East," he said.
The conditions in some countries may be more "conducive" for radicalisation, he added. Exposure to exclusivist teachings that might have been banned in Singapore, or proximity to crises involving Muslims, like the Rakhine conflict, could make Singaporeans abroad more susceptible to terrorist propaganda.
Universiti Sains Malaysia professor Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid said governments can work with foreign intelligence agencies to monitor citizens abroad. But deciding who to keep tabs on, and dedicating resources to do so, will be a challenge.
Having a grassroots network on the ground - made up of people who live in the country and have the time and opportunity to get to know the other Singaporeans there on a personal basis - can be a crucial step.
Such groups that regularly reach out to and organise activities for the community can help with the alienation and marginalisation some Singaporeans experience abroad that may lead them to seek comfort and meaning in radical ideology, said ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute fellow Norshahril Saat.
Efforts to build these bonds already exist, he noted, citing how the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) keeps in close contact with students studying in Islamic institutes abroad, and update them on happenings back home.
Muis has student liaison officers to look after the needs of students in regions like North Africa and the Middle East.
In the coming years, said International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research head Rohan Gunaratna, Singapore will need to invest more time and resources to identify and engage vulnerable workers and students abroad.
INTERNATIONAL TIE-UPS
And as the terror threat grows more complex, Singapore cannot let up on international and regional cooperation efforts, be it working together to keep tabs on nationals deemed at risk or sharing military might, said experts.
Complex as the task may be, it has paid off.
"In our region, security agencies work closely together to exchange information in our common fight against terrorism," said the MHA. "Such collaborations have helped to uncover plots, led to the arrest of suspects, and thwarted attacks."
For instance, the authorities here have worked with their partners abroad to deport foreigners who were working here and found to be radicalised, foiled plans by an ISIS-linked cell based in Batam to fire a missile at the Marina Bay area last year, and captured Jemaah Islamiah (JI) leader Mas Selamat Kastari in 2009, who fled to Malaysia after escaping from the Whitley Road Detention Centre a year earlier.
Within Asean, added MHA, there are established platforms for officials from different countries to meet and discuss counter-terrorism strategies.
The sharing of expertise and practices will help countries adapt to the evolving terror threat - and Singapore has much to offer.
For one thing, said Dr Fauzi, there is a wealth of Singapore-based terrorism research at institutions like the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS).
Then, there is the Singapore approach to deradicalisation, which has drawn interest from countries around the world, noted Professor Gunaratna.
Last year, Singapore hosted a workshop on best practices and policies for promoting religious tolerance, which included a trip to the Harmony Centre at An-Nahdhah Mosque, which features artefacts and information on different religions, and organises inter-faith programmes.
The Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG), set up in 2003 to counsel JI detainees, now has its own resource and counselling centre, which has pushed out a slew of initiatives aimed at spreading the right teachings of Islam, such as a mobile application and pamphlets on frequently misunderstood issues like the Syrian conflict.
Meanwhile, Muis has set up a network that will bring together asatizah (religious teachers) and youth groups, who will be trained to counter radicalisation and reach out to young people on social media.
It will also serve as an avenue for people to seek religious advice for loved ones, with total anonymity, to help with earlier detection and intervention.
The authorities and community leaders have in recent months - as several Singaporeans were detained under the Internal Security Act for radicalism - stressed the importance of family and friends coming forward to inform the authorities or those with religious know-how about individuals who may show extreme behaviour.
Mr Muhammad Faizal Othman, chairman of Taman Jurong Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circle, said: "We must take care of each other, always be vigilant, and have the moral courage to alert the authorities when we see suspicious activities or behaviour. In doing so, we will enable timely intervention."
The Muslim community must continue to lead the way when it comes to countering and speaking out against radical ideology, said Dr Tan Kim Huat from the Trinity Theological College, who suggested that accounts from those who were radicalised and have been rehabilitated could be made public.
But non-Muslims also play a crucial role by showing empathy and solidarity, he said, citing how the National Council of Churches of Singapore has issued statements in support of Singapore's Muslim community.
The Roman Catholic Archbishop's Communications Office at the Archdiocese of Singapore said other groups must affirm and commend the efforts of the Muslim community. The development should concern all Singaporeans and the different communities will "need to work harder together and in even closer collaboration", it added.
Besides inter-faith activities like dialogues and putting up a united front, targeted programmes to give those who may feel left behind hope and help are important, too.
Dr Norshahril believes that even as religious leaders here beef up theological arguments, "we need to devise mechanisms to ensure those who feel marginalised can receive support".
He pointed out that while ISIS' recruits have come from all walks of life, the group has attracted a higher proportion of people on the margins.
Shahdan himself came from a life on the margins - a school dropout who did not hold a stable job and was in and out of jail for a series of drug and criminal offences.
"(His) story is a classic case of the disenfranchised or alienated being given a new but radicalised meaning in life, leading to zealotism," noted Dr Tan.
"How we are to find programmes to encourage fresh starts in life but without their being exploited or radicalised will be a big challenge for our society."
Experts suggest targeted efforts to engage vulnerable workers and students abroad, and people who may feel marginalised
By Nur Asyiqin Mohamad Salleh, The Sunday Times, 1 Oct 2017
Security experts say Megat Shahdan Abdul Samad's case illustrates the limitations governments face when it comes to the radicalisation of citizens living abroad.
Shahdan moved to the Middle East in early 2014, and some time during his stay there he was radicalised. In a matter of months, he would be on his way to join the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), and would spend the next three years or so fighting on the front lines in Iraq and Syria.
Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam, in Facebook remarks last week on Shahdan's appearance in an ISIS propaganda video, said the Internal Security Department (ISD) had been aware of his activities.
"So far, ISD has moved early, dealing with those who showed signs of radicalisation, in Singapore. This man, Abu Uqayl, is outside Singapore," he said, using the name Shahdan is identified by in the video.
"And over time, we must assume more of this will happen. We have to think of ways of dealing with radicalisation of Singaporeans, that could take place outside Singapore, particularly in countries where the possibilities of radicalisation are higher."
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) told Insight that it is studying this.
It is very difficult to monitor and counter overseas radicalisation, said Associate Professor Bilveer Singh of the National University of Singapore.
"While Singapore is good at trying to stop its citizens from being radicalised at home, it faces an Everest-like challenge when trying to stop people like (Shahdan) being radicalised abroad, what's more in the Middle East," he said.
The conditions in some countries may be more "conducive" for radicalisation, he added. Exposure to exclusivist teachings that might have been banned in Singapore, or proximity to crises involving Muslims, like the Rakhine conflict, could make Singaporeans abroad more susceptible to terrorist propaganda.
Universiti Sains Malaysia professor Ahmad Fauzi Abdul Hamid said governments can work with foreign intelligence agencies to monitor citizens abroad. But deciding who to keep tabs on, and dedicating resources to do so, will be a challenge.
Having a grassroots network on the ground - made up of people who live in the country and have the time and opportunity to get to know the other Singaporeans there on a personal basis - can be a crucial step.
Such groups that regularly reach out to and organise activities for the community can help with the alienation and marginalisation some Singaporeans experience abroad that may lead them to seek comfort and meaning in radical ideology, said ISEAS - Yusof Ishak Institute fellow Norshahril Saat.
Efforts to build these bonds already exist, he noted, citing how the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) keeps in close contact with students studying in Islamic institutes abroad, and update them on happenings back home.
Muis has student liaison officers to look after the needs of students in regions like North Africa and the Middle East.
In the coming years, said International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research head Rohan Gunaratna, Singapore will need to invest more time and resources to identify and engage vulnerable workers and students abroad.
INTERNATIONAL TIE-UPS
And as the terror threat grows more complex, Singapore cannot let up on international and regional cooperation efforts, be it working together to keep tabs on nationals deemed at risk or sharing military might, said experts.
Complex as the task may be, it has paid off.
"In our region, security agencies work closely together to exchange information in our common fight against terrorism," said the MHA. "Such collaborations have helped to uncover plots, led to the arrest of suspects, and thwarted attacks."
For instance, the authorities here have worked with their partners abroad to deport foreigners who were working here and found to be radicalised, foiled plans by an ISIS-linked cell based in Batam to fire a missile at the Marina Bay area last year, and captured Jemaah Islamiah (JI) leader Mas Selamat Kastari in 2009, who fled to Malaysia after escaping from the Whitley Road Detention Centre a year earlier.
Within Asean, added MHA, there are established platforms for officials from different countries to meet and discuss counter-terrorism strategies.
The sharing of expertise and practices will help countries adapt to the evolving terror threat - and Singapore has much to offer.
For one thing, said Dr Fauzi, there is a wealth of Singapore-based terrorism research at institutions like the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS).
Then, there is the Singapore approach to deradicalisation, which has drawn interest from countries around the world, noted Professor Gunaratna.
Last year, Singapore hosted a workshop on best practices and policies for promoting religious tolerance, which included a trip to the Harmony Centre at An-Nahdhah Mosque, which features artefacts and information on different religions, and organises inter-faith programmes.
The Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG), set up in 2003 to counsel JI detainees, now has its own resource and counselling centre, which has pushed out a slew of initiatives aimed at spreading the right teachings of Islam, such as a mobile application and pamphlets on frequently misunderstood issues like the Syrian conflict.
Meanwhile, Muis has set up a network that will bring together asatizah (religious teachers) and youth groups, who will be trained to counter radicalisation and reach out to young people on social media.
It will also serve as an avenue for people to seek religious advice for loved ones, with total anonymity, to help with earlier detection and intervention.
The authorities and community leaders have in recent months - as several Singaporeans were detained under the Internal Security Act for radicalism - stressed the importance of family and friends coming forward to inform the authorities or those with religious know-how about individuals who may show extreme behaviour.
Mr Muhammad Faizal Othman, chairman of Taman Jurong Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circle, said: "We must take care of each other, always be vigilant, and have the moral courage to alert the authorities when we see suspicious activities or behaviour. In doing so, we will enable timely intervention."
The Muslim community must continue to lead the way when it comes to countering and speaking out against radical ideology, said Dr Tan Kim Huat from the Trinity Theological College, who suggested that accounts from those who were radicalised and have been rehabilitated could be made public.
But non-Muslims also play a crucial role by showing empathy and solidarity, he said, citing how the National Council of Churches of Singapore has issued statements in support of Singapore's Muslim community.
The Roman Catholic Archbishop's Communications Office at the Archdiocese of Singapore said other groups must affirm and commend the efforts of the Muslim community. The development should concern all Singaporeans and the different communities will "need to work harder together and in even closer collaboration", it added.
Besides inter-faith activities like dialogues and putting up a united front, targeted programmes to give those who may feel left behind hope and help are important, too.
Dr Norshahril believes that even as religious leaders here beef up theological arguments, "we need to devise mechanisms to ensure those who feel marginalised can receive support".
He pointed out that while ISIS' recruits have come from all walks of life, the group has attracted a higher proportion of people on the margins.
Shahdan himself came from a life on the margins - a school dropout who did not hold a stable job and was in and out of jail for a series of drug and criminal offences.
"(His) story is a classic case of the disenfranchised or alienated being given a new but radicalised meaning in life, leading to zealotism," noted Dr Tan.
"How we are to find programmes to encourage fresh starts in life but without their being exploited or radicalised will be a big challenge for our society."
4 in 5 Singaporeans unprepared for terror attack: Poll
Over 70% admit they don't have life-saving skills, only 12% know SMS number for crises
By Ng Huiwen and Calvin Yang, The Sunday Times 24 Sep 2017
Singaporeans still have some way to go before they are ready to deal with a terror attack here.
A Sunday Times poll found that about four in five Singaporeans feel unprepared if a terror attack were to hit home.
And more than 70 per cent admitted that they have not acquired life-saving skills, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid.
Today is exactly a year after the SGSecure national movement, which aims to get all Singaporeans involved in the fight against terror, was launched.
In the past year, the authorities have organised a number of community Emergency Preparedness Days, talks and exhibitions.
Home Team officers have visited 220,000 households and more than 160 schools.
A mobile application, which allows the public to receive important alerts or send information to the authorities via text, pictures or videos, was also launched in conjunction with the campaign.
However, a Sunday Times survey of 250 Singaporeans, aged 13 to 81, found that just 14 per cent have downloaded the SGSecure app - consistent with the Ministry of Home Affairs' (MHA) update that the app has been downloaded on to 843,000 devices.
The poll also found that only about half the respondents knew how to use a fire extinguisher; 30 per cent said they were trained in first aid; and about 22 per cent are certified to administer CPR or operate an automated external defibrillator (AED).
Even more dismal was the percentage of those who knew what number to send an SMS to (71999) during an emergency, if they were unable to call the authorities.
On the bright side, publicity on dealing with suspicious items and persons seems to be working. More than 90 per cent rightly pointed that they should inform service staff and the authorities if they see someone acting suspiciously at an MRT station, or if they found an unattended bag on the bus.
MHA said that while SGSecure has gained "significant momentum", more work is needed in order to sustain it. The ministry said it will be ramping up efforts in the neighbourhoods, schools and workplaces, with a focus on strengthening citizens' response in crises.
The Emergency Preparedness Day, which was revamped amid a heightened terror threat, will be rolled out at all 89 constituencies over the next 18 months. So far, it has been conducted at 36 constituencies.
Observers have said that it is not a question of "if" but "when" a terror attack will strike Singapore.
Over 70% admit they don't have life-saving skills, only 12% know SMS number for crises
By Ng Huiwen and Calvin Yang, The Sunday Times 24 Sep 2017
A Sunday Times poll found that about four in five Singaporeans feel unprepared if a terror attack were to hit home.
And more than 70 per cent admitted that they have not acquired life-saving skills, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid.
Today is exactly a year after the SGSecure national movement, which aims to get all Singaporeans involved in the fight against terror, was launched.
In the past year, the authorities have organised a number of community Emergency Preparedness Days, talks and exhibitions.
Home Team officers have visited 220,000 households and more than 160 schools.
A mobile application, which allows the public to receive important alerts or send information to the authorities via text, pictures or videos, was also launched in conjunction with the campaign.
However, a Sunday Times survey of 250 Singaporeans, aged 13 to 81, found that just 14 per cent have downloaded the SGSecure app - consistent with the Ministry of Home Affairs' (MHA) update that the app has been downloaded on to 843,000 devices.
The poll also found that only about half the respondents knew how to use a fire extinguisher; 30 per cent said they were trained in first aid; and about 22 per cent are certified to administer CPR or operate an automated external defibrillator (AED).
On the bright side, publicity on dealing with suspicious items and persons seems to be working. More than 90 per cent rightly pointed that they should inform service staff and the authorities if they see someone acting suspiciously at an MRT station, or if they found an unattended bag on the bus.
MHA said that while SGSecure has gained "significant momentum", more work is needed in order to sustain it. The ministry said it will be ramping up efforts in the neighbourhoods, schools and workplaces, with a focus on strengthening citizens' response in crises.
The Emergency Preparedness Day, which was revamped amid a heightened terror threat, will be rolled out at all 89 constituencies over the next 18 months. So far, it has been conducted at 36 constituencies.
Observers have said that it is not a question of "if" but "when" a terror attack will strike Singapore.
With threats against Singapore becoming more virulent, some Singaporeans have picked up skills needed to help others in a crisis.
Among them is investment analyst Kelvin Low, 29, whose workplace sends employees for CPR and AED courses and teaches them to use fire extinguishers.
While he is prepared for a terror situation, Mr Low said, the shock of an attack will affect all, "no matter how ready we think we are".
Housewife Ann Zhang, 36, said she knows it is important but has been putting off learning first aid."I should set time aside to pick up these skills because anything can happen, and I would want to be able to protect my loved ones," she said.
Additional reporting by Sue-Ann Tan, Daniel Ong and Raffaella Nathan Charles
Related
MHA Statement on ISIS Video Featuring Alleged Singaporean Fighter "Abu Uqayl" -24 Sep 2017
Singapore soldiers on the front line in the fight against ISIS
MHA Statement on ISIS Video Featuring Alleged Singaporean Fighter "Abu Uqayl" -24 Sep 2017
Singapore soldiers on the front line in the fight against ISIS
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