NEW Jemaah Islamiah (JI) operatives and cells continue to sprout in the region and need to be identified early and disrupted, Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng said yesterday.

He said security agencies here would continue working closely with their regional counterparts to arrest JI members, and thus reduce the chances of them infiltrating Singapore to mount attacks.

On deterring and managing a terror attack SINGAPORE'S maritime agencies are using advanced technology to detect intrusions, but it is not realistic to expect a zero incursion rate, Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng told Parliament yesterday. 'Zero intrusions can only be achieved if we impose a complete lock-down of Singapore. We know that cannot be done. ... more

'The key terrorism threat continues to be posed by Al-Qaeda and its associated groups, including JI and many other militant groups in our region,' he said.

'We are also concerned about self-radicalised individuals who may operate singly or in small groups to carry out their violent beliefs.'

Many Islamist militant groups identified with Al-Qaeda and its use of violence to achieve political goals, and therefore 'concerted efforts' had to be made to stem such militancy, he added.

Mr Wong, who is also the Home Affairs Minister, was giving an update on security threats that Singapore faces, including potential risks arising from plans by the United States to close its Guantanamo Bay detention facility.

Dr Teo Ho Pin (Bukit Panjang) asked if there was a way for the Government to be informed of the status and movement of South-east Asian detainees who might pose security threats to Singapore.

Last month, US President Barack Obama directed that the detention camp in Cuba be shut down within a year.

Around the same time, Al-Qaeda in Yemen issued an online statement identifying its new deputy leader as Said Ali al-Shihri, who, as Mr Wong noted, was released from Guantanamo Bay in 2007.

'The same may be expected if other detainees are released, such as Hambali, Al- Qaeda's link to JI; and Khaled Sheikh Mohammed, mastermind of the Sept 11, 2001 attacks,' he said.

A mechanism to track detainees' movements would be 'useful', but this was up to the Obama administration, he said.

'Our security agencies will monitor developments and keep in close touch with our foreign counterparts.'

Also detained at Guantanamo are Malaysian JI members Mohd Farik Amin and Nazir Lep, who are wanted in Malaysia.

Both men are said to be lieutenants of Hambali, an Indonesian national. All three were captured in Thailand in 2003.

Mr Wong also said there should be no let-up in efforts to counteract Al-Qaeda and JI.

He noted that Ms Sidney Jones, a leading specialist on the JI, believes that about 40 Islamist schools associated with the group are scattered across Indonesia and continue to teach members' children.

'If these children are radicalised, they will grow up to form the new rungs of the JI leadership, or become ready JI operatives for terrorist attacks,' he said.

The US National Intelligence Council has reached the same conclusion, he said.

To guard against radicalisation, Muslim community groups here have organised seminars for students on the threat of terrorist ideology, noted Mr Wong.

The Religious Rehabilitation Group - Islamic leaders who counsel JI detainees - is also educating the community about the dangers of terrorist ideas through forums, the media and a website.

The Internal Security Department (ISD) is working with the Education Ministry and schools to bring counter-terrorism messages to teachers and students.

Dr Teo also asked Mr Wong for an update on efforts to arrest JI leader Mas Selamat Kastari, who escaped from detention here on Feb 27 last year and is still at large despite a nationwide manhunt and the offer of a $1 million reward.

'We have no credible information on Mas Selamat's whereabouts to share at this point in time,' said Mr Wong.

'But let me assure Dr Teo that we have not slackened in our search.

'Whether Mas Selamat is in Singapore or he has fled our country, we will hunt him down as we did before.'

Thanking MPs and the public for supporting Home Team officers over the past year as they tracked the fugitive, he said: 'It means a lot to them to know that the public is behind them.'

Dr Teo also asked for an update on the number of detainees at the Whitley Road Detention Centre. Mr Wong said there are now 20 persons under the ISD's detention for terrorist activities.

zakirh@sph.com.sg