Forum: Beyond counter-terror drills, people have a vital role to play
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I read with concern that two more self-radicalised individuals were detained by the Internal Security Department ( ISD detains Singaporean teen who wanted to kill at least 100 Muslims at 5 mosques; S’porean girl, 15, who wanted to marry ISIS fighter, is first female teen dealt with under ISA,
The threat of terrorist attacks caused by self-radicalisation is a reminder that even if racial and religious relations in Singapore are healthy, a handful of isolated followers from extremist and sectarian movements can have an outsized impact if they succeed in their attacks.
Extremist and sectarian forces could seek to fan the flames further and divide our country. Some troublemakers could even be well-funded state-sponsored actors.
The Ministry of Defence and the Home Team have been doing an excellent job with their counter-terrorism exercises. For example, there is the annual Exercise Heartbeat, a counter-terrorism and emergency preparedness exercise to strengthen community resilience against terrorism threats.
But beyond these operational exercises, the people also have an important part to play in the information space.
Non-governmental organisations (NGOs), including various interfaith groups, can conduct closed-door table-top exercises to simulate first responses to various scenarios of terrorism aimed at weakening social cohesion.
If such exercises are already being attended by key community leaders, these exercises can be expanded to involve more NGOs and self-help groups.
Scenarios can be based on past attacks that have happened abroad. Scenarios should also change according to how terrorists are adapting to the latest security measures.
During an exercise, NGOs and self-help group leaders can take the lead as “social first responders” in the information space, simulating and coordinating their statements and publicity materials, including both social media and mass media.
Norhaiyah Mahmood
President
Humanist Society (Singapore)
