MHA calls for continued vigilance amid ongoing terrorism threats in Singapore and the region
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MHA said that while there is presently no specific or imminent threat to Singapore, the general threat of terrorism to the country and the region remains high.
ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
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SINGAPORE – Singaporeans should stay vigilant and report any suspicious persons or activities to the police immediately, whether they are in the country or overseas, said the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Oct 28.
The ministry said this in response to queries from The Straits Times about a Jakarta Post report which stated that the Indonesian police are on the alert for the possible spread of radical groups
Batam is about an hour’s ferry ride from Singapore.
The news comes amid the stabilising situation in the Middle East after a peace agreement between Israel and Palestinian group Hamas.
MHA said that while there is presently no specific or imminent threat to Singapore, the general threat of terrorism to the country and the region remains high.
This is due to the developments in the Middle East, and the persistent threat posed by global terrorist groups like ISIS.
“Given the transnational nature of the terrorism threat, (the) Internal Security Department collaborates closely with our foreign intelligence and security partners, including our Indonesian counterparts, to share information and disrupt any threats,” it added.
According to The Jakarta Post, Batam, Rempang and Galang (Barelang) city police chief Zainal Arifin said the terrorism alert was reflected in several preventive measures, such as tightened supervision of migration gateways, in coordination with the Batam Immigration Office, although no specific threat was identified.
He said that the country’s police also work together with police forces in neighbouring Malaysia and Singapore through a cooperation initiative arranged by the Indonesian National Police headquarters.
MHA also advised the public that they can refer to the SGSecure website at for more information. In addition, anyone who knows or suspects that a person has been radicalised, or is engaging in extremist activities or propagating extremist teachings, should promptly contact the Internal Security Department on 1800-2626-473.
Correction note: This story has been updated to correct a factual error which said Batam was 150km away from Singapore.
