"The Big Read: Paris attacks raise uneasy questions in Singapore - TODAY 21 Nov 2015
SINGAPORE: The spectre of terrorism — while never far away in this region — has reared its head again, after the Paris attacks that left scores dead and injured.
As counter-terrorism forces in Europe and elsewhere continue to hunt down those responsible for the carnage, the reverberations are being felt thousands of kilometres away, including in Singapore where people are being jolted out of their comfort zone to confront uneasy questions: Will Singapore become a target eventually? How will Singaporeans, who have long enjoyed peace and security, and the society at large cope with a terrorist attack? Can our much-vaunted social cohesion withstand the impact? Or will distrust seep in and destroy what has been painstakingly built up?
Each time an incident happens, Singapore’s leaders have been quick to stress that it is not a matter of if, but when, the country — which is in a region where terrorists are active — will be hit.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong warned Singaporeans that the attacks in Paris could happen here and they have to be psychologically prepared for it. In the wake of the incident, Singapore has raised its alert level and stepped up security measures and border checks, with Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam stressing that the incident showed that no country is immune, even when there is a state of heightened security.
With the Paris attacks fresh in their minds, some Singaporeans are bracing for a terrorist attack on our shores.
A street poll of 100 Singaporeans aged 18 and above, conducted by TODAY over the past week, found that almost four in 10 respondents think a terrorist attack will happen in Singapore within the next five years. A third said they do not think so, while the remainder were unsure.
The top concern among the respondents should such an incident occur here is personal and family safety, which was cited by 68 of them. This was followed by social tensions (16) and economic impact (11)."
Islam is a big religion in Asean countries. The Muslims population is very big in this region. These are facts.
Lessons for me are:
1. we have to be vigilant at all time. While we must stop 'fear' from developing, the best way to fight 'fear' is with proactivity. The 'anti-terrorists drills' in public areas on a regular and consistent basis involving the ordinary people are good preparation;
2. making sure that the peaceful majority of the Muslim community continue to speak out every time the brutal minority of terrorists that practiced a murderous Islamic ideology commit a terrorist attack. In this unusual time, simply asserting that 'the majority of Muslims are peace loving' is not enough. There are fears about that minority that practice killing non-believers are real! Not seeing the peaceful majority will simply fan more fear, no matter how irrational it may be! So, the media should magnify EVERY appearance, contact, activity that the peaceful majority make/do. The Inter-Religious Council's activities, articles, etc. should also get PROMINENT spaces and air/face time nationally!;
3. with the male citizens of Singaporeans being army trained, it will help in the responses to a terrorist attacks, somehow, somewhat. Let's hope that a terrorist attack will never happen in Singapore. With tight gun control, high vigilance of our security and intelligence forces, we will give it a go should the unimaginable happened here!
SINGAPORE: The spectre of terrorism — while never far away in this region — has reared its head again, after the Paris attacks that left scores dead and injured.
As counter-terrorism forces in Europe and elsewhere continue to hunt down those responsible for the carnage, the reverberations are being felt thousands of kilometres away, including in Singapore where people are being jolted out of their comfort zone to confront uneasy questions: Will Singapore become a target eventually? How will Singaporeans, who have long enjoyed peace and security, and the society at large cope with a terrorist attack? Can our much-vaunted social cohesion withstand the impact? Or will distrust seep in and destroy what has been painstakingly built up?
Each time an incident happens, Singapore’s leaders have been quick to stress that it is not a matter of if, but when, the country — which is in a region where terrorists are active — will be hit.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong warned Singaporeans that the attacks in Paris could happen here and they have to be psychologically prepared for it. In the wake of the incident, Singapore has raised its alert level and stepped up security measures and border checks, with Law and Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam stressing that the incident showed that no country is immune, even when there is a state of heightened security.
With the Paris attacks fresh in their minds, some Singaporeans are bracing for a terrorist attack on our shores.
A street poll of 100 Singaporeans aged 18 and above, conducted by TODAY over the past week, found that almost four in 10 respondents think a terrorist attack will happen in Singapore within the next five years. A third said they do not think so, while the remainder were unsure.
The top concern among the respondents should such an incident occur here is personal and family safety, which was cited by 68 of them. This was followed by social tensions (16) and economic impact (11)."
Islam is a big religion in Asean countries. The Muslims population is very big in this region. These are facts.
Lessons for me are:
1. we have to be vigilant at all time. While we must stop 'fear' from developing, the best way to fight 'fear' is with proactivity. The 'anti-terrorists drills' in public areas on a regular and consistent basis involving the ordinary people are good preparation;
2. making sure that the peaceful majority of the Muslim community continue to speak out every time the brutal minority of terrorists that practiced a murderous Islamic ideology commit a terrorist attack. In this unusual time, simply asserting that 'the majority of Muslims are peace loving' is not enough. There are fears about that minority that practice killing non-believers are real! Not seeing the peaceful majority will simply fan more fear, no matter how irrational it may be! So, the media should magnify EVERY appearance, contact, activity that the peaceful majority make/do. The Inter-Religious Council's activities, articles, etc. should also get PROMINENT spaces and air/face time nationally!;
3. with the male citizens of Singaporeans being army trained, it will help in the responses to a terrorist attacks, somehow, somewhat. Let's hope that a terrorist attack will never happen in Singapore. With tight gun control, high vigilance of our security and intelligence forces, we will give it a go should the unimaginable happened here!
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