"Singapore should assume that there 'may be more plots': Ng Eng Hen - CNA 05 August 2016
SINGAPORE: Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen on Friday (Aug 5) said that Singapore "should assume that there may be more plots" like the plan to launch rockets from Indonesia's Batam island against targets in Marina Bay, which was foiled by Indonesian authorities.
Dr Ng added that since the Sep 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) "has paid very close attention to aerial threats and has upgraded (Singapore's) air defence systems".
The Defence Minister made his comments after six suspects, allegedly from the terror group KGR@Katibah GR, were arrested in Indonesia, including ringleader Gigih Rahmat Dewa, 31, who is said to have been behind the plot to attack Marina Bay.
In a Facebook post on Friday evening, Dr Ng wrote that: "This most recent plot shows how important our efforts are and why we must continue to protect our island ... Terrorism is a global problem and no country is immune.
"We have to stay vigilant and keep improving our defence systems. Most importantly, we must remain united to protect what we treasure on this island home."
Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam called on citizens to be "extra alert".
"This does not come as a surprise," said Mr Shanmugam. "I have spoken several times, about plans being made in places just outside Singapore, to target Singapore - we were serious about the threats. The attacks can come from terrorists who seek to come into Singapore; and they can come from terrorists who locate themselves just outside Singapore. Our small size increases these risks."
"We were aware of the plans being made to attack us with rockets," he added. "We worked closely with the Indonesian authorities. We are grateful for the actions they have taken. This shows the importance of co-operation between countries."
"Next week, during National Day, I will be in Indonesia, for a security conference, chaired by Indonesia and attended by Ministers from this region.
"Our people have to be extra alert. We have to emphasise the importance of SGSecure, and the role that everyone has to play."
In comments posted on Facebook, Deputy Prime Minster Teo Chee Hean called on Singaporeans to stay vigilant.
"This shows the seriousness of the threat we face," said Mr Teo. "We are grateful for the good co-operation by the Indonesian authorities and their actions to apprehend the group."
"In response to this threat and the prevailing security situation, Police and other agencies have been stepping up inland and border security measures," he added. "This development highlights the seriousness of the terrorism threat to Singapore, and the importance of the SG Secure national movement."
"All of us must remain vigilant," Mr Teo said.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Chan Chun Sing also posted comments on Facebook, calling the plot "extremely serious".
"It is something that we have been concerned for a long time. With the proliferation of such weapons, coupled with radical terrorist ideology, we can never take our security for granted," said Mr Chan.
"Our security agencies and the Indonesian counterparts have done well to foil this plot. But we must always remember that we have to get it right, first time every time, all the time; while the attackers only need to get it right one time, anytime. Our safeguard is eternal vigilance by our security agencies and every Singaporean," he added.
"Even should they ever succeed in their plot, we must never let them destroy our unity or deprive us of our normalcy," Mr Chan said.
UNLIKELY ROCKET WOULD BE ABLE TO TRAVERSE FROM BATAM TO MARINA BAY: EXPERT
Meanwhile, an expert said it is unlikely that a rocket would have been able to traverse the distance from Batam to Marina Bay - which is about 25 kilometres - especially if the rocket was homemade.
Said Dr Graham Ong-Webb, a research fellow at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies: "It's more likely if you want something to fly that distance and precisely hit a specific target like the Marina Bay Sands for example, then you need to buy something off the shelves.
“Unless you're talking about a homemade rocket that's designed and constructed by engineers - people who know what they're doing - who know how to put a ballistic missile together with a proper propellant, with a guidance system, and to bring that projectile onto its intended target."
On how susceptible is Singapore to attacks from outside the island, he said: "There are a possible variety of threats that could be brought to bear against Singapore society, and these are based on precedents around the world, and what's available technologically.
“Other possibilities could be unmanned drones. There are a lot of drones available commercially. And there are drones that increasingly are able to carry significant payloads. Like any state, we would be somewhat susceptible. Because there's only so much we can do beyond your borders.
“What it simply means is, we have to be psychologically prepared, that we need to carry on with our resilience initiatives, and that (when) push comes to shove - touch wood - if an attack does occur, then we need to bounce back very quickly."
When asked how Singapore can protect itself from such threats and will this change the way the country approaches its security measures, Dr Ong-Webb said: "I think there will be a significant adjustment to our security policies and security initiatives. That will naturally happen as we come to find out that terrorist groups start to procure new technologies and new capabilities to carry out sophisticated attacks and also low-tech attacks.
“What also needs to be done is that we need to keep our citizens strong psychologically. I think that's the best weapon against terrorism.""
It is indeed a very serious and scary plot! If this continues, we simply has to be prepared on how to respond with the maximum and optimal measures quickly taking whatever damages and casualties been inflicted upon us and to minimise any negative impact between the races and religious groups.
I am looking forward to the SGSecure Movement to be launched next month and hope to be part of it to contribute to this effort. It is important that each block, neighbourhood, community, offices, public places, commercial buildings, etc. have people that are trained and READY to execute response plan professionally even if they are volunteers or ordinary non-professional people!
How vulnerable we can be! How lucky to have the Indonesian police on top of this plot!!
SINGAPORE: Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen on Friday (Aug 5) said that Singapore "should assume that there may be more plots" like the plan to launch rockets from Indonesia's Batam island against targets in Marina Bay, which was foiled by Indonesian authorities.
Dr Ng added that since the Sep 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) "has paid very close attention to aerial threats and has upgraded (Singapore's) air defence systems".
The Defence Minister made his comments after six suspects, allegedly from the terror group KGR@Katibah GR, were arrested in Indonesia, including ringleader Gigih Rahmat Dewa, 31, who is said to have been behind the plot to attack Marina Bay.
In a Facebook post on Friday evening, Dr Ng wrote that: "This most recent plot shows how important our efforts are and why we must continue to protect our island ... Terrorism is a global problem and no country is immune.
"We have to stay vigilant and keep improving our defence systems. Most importantly, we must remain united to protect what we treasure on this island home."
Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law K Shanmugam called on citizens to be "extra alert".
"This does not come as a surprise," said Mr Shanmugam. "I have spoken several times, about plans being made in places just outside Singapore, to target Singapore - we were serious about the threats. The attacks can come from terrorists who seek to come into Singapore; and they can come from terrorists who locate themselves just outside Singapore. Our small size increases these risks."
"We were aware of the plans being made to attack us with rockets," he added. "We worked closely with the Indonesian authorities. We are grateful for the actions they have taken. This shows the importance of co-operation between countries."
"Next week, during National Day, I will be in Indonesia, for a security conference, chaired by Indonesia and attended by Ministers from this region.
"Our people have to be extra alert. We have to emphasise the importance of SGSecure, and the role that everyone has to play."
In comments posted on Facebook, Deputy Prime Minster Teo Chee Hean called on Singaporeans to stay vigilant.
"This shows the seriousness of the threat we face," said Mr Teo. "We are grateful for the good co-operation by the Indonesian authorities and their actions to apprehend the group."
"In response to this threat and the prevailing security situation, Police and other agencies have been stepping up inland and border security measures," he added. "This development highlights the seriousness of the terrorism threat to Singapore, and the importance of the SG Secure national movement."
"All of us must remain vigilant," Mr Teo said.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Office Chan Chun Sing also posted comments on Facebook, calling the plot "extremely serious".
"It is something that we have been concerned for a long time. With the proliferation of such weapons, coupled with radical terrorist ideology, we can never take our security for granted," said Mr Chan.
"Our security agencies and the Indonesian counterparts have done well to foil this plot. But we must always remember that we have to get it right, first time every time, all the time; while the attackers only need to get it right one time, anytime. Our safeguard is eternal vigilance by our security agencies and every Singaporean," he added.
"Even should they ever succeed in their plot, we must never let them destroy our unity or deprive us of our normalcy," Mr Chan said.
UNLIKELY ROCKET WOULD BE ABLE TO TRAVERSE FROM BATAM TO MARINA BAY: EXPERT
Meanwhile, an expert said it is unlikely that a rocket would have been able to traverse the distance from Batam to Marina Bay - which is about 25 kilometres - especially if the rocket was homemade.
Said Dr Graham Ong-Webb, a research fellow at the Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies: "It's more likely if you want something to fly that distance and precisely hit a specific target like the Marina Bay Sands for example, then you need to buy something off the shelves.
“Unless you're talking about a homemade rocket that's designed and constructed by engineers - people who know what they're doing - who know how to put a ballistic missile together with a proper propellant, with a guidance system, and to bring that projectile onto its intended target."
On how susceptible is Singapore to attacks from outside the island, he said: "There are a possible variety of threats that could be brought to bear against Singapore society, and these are based on precedents around the world, and what's available technologically.
“Other possibilities could be unmanned drones. There are a lot of drones available commercially. And there are drones that increasingly are able to carry significant payloads. Like any state, we would be somewhat susceptible. Because there's only so much we can do beyond your borders.
“What it simply means is, we have to be psychologically prepared, that we need to carry on with our resilience initiatives, and that (when) push comes to shove - touch wood - if an attack does occur, then we need to bounce back very quickly."
When asked how Singapore can protect itself from such threats and will this change the way the country approaches its security measures, Dr Ong-Webb said: "I think there will be a significant adjustment to our security policies and security initiatives. That will naturally happen as we come to find out that terrorist groups start to procure new technologies and new capabilities to carry out sophisticated attacks and also low-tech attacks.
“What also needs to be done is that we need to keep our citizens strong psychologically. I think that's the best weapon against terrorism.""
It is indeed a very serious and scary plot! If this continues, we simply has to be prepared on how to respond with the maximum and optimal measures quickly taking whatever damages and casualties been inflicted upon us and to minimise any negative impact between the races and religious groups.
I am looking forward to the SGSecure Movement to be launched next month and hope to be part of it to contribute to this effort. It is important that each block, neighbourhood, community, offices, public places, commercial buildings, etc. have people that are trained and READY to execute response plan professionally even if they are volunteers or ordinary non-professional people!
How vulnerable we can be! How lucky to have the Indonesian police on top of this plot!!
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