Reply by Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen to Parliamentary Question on Joining the Coalition to Combat ISIS

Mr Alex Yam Ziming: To ask the Minister for Defence (a) whether the SAF will consider joining the broad coalition currently combating ISIS in Syria and Iraq; and (b) in what ways will the SAF contribute towards this effort.

Dr Ng Eng Hen: Mdm, the threat of jihadist terrorism is transnational; it extends across continents and beyond the confines of territorial borders. Singapore as an international hub is particularly exposed to this threat. Members of the public are well aware of it in 2001; ISD disrupted a terrorist plot by Al-Qaeda (AQ) to mount suicide bombings in Singapore. This was with the help of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist network. This clearly showed that even terrorist groups that are based in countries far away can pose a direct security threat to Singapore here.

In the last decade, Singapore responded to the terrorist threat from Al-Qaeda and Jemaah Islamiyah by dealing with it squarely, explaining to all Singaporeans what is at stake. We strengthened our social, psychological and physical defences at home and joined other countries to deal with forces in Iraq and Afghanistan which were the sources of the radicalisation and terror. As a result both AQ and JI are weaker today. However this terrorism threat is a long term one. And new groups like ISIS (The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria) will emerge even as existing ones falter. When they do, we must not lose focus or heart in dealing with the threat from ISIS. We must continue the approach that has served Singapore well and protected us thus far.

Like AQ and JI, ISIS is a terrorist organisation that poses a direct security threat to Singapore, our region and the rest of the world. ISIS was in fact Al-Qaeda in Iraq before it splintered to become an independent organisation. Deputy Prime Minister Teo has provided extensive details on the threat from ISIS in his replies to members' questions in this house in July and October. I do not intend to repeat his points, but with the speaker's permission, to circulate the relevant portion of his previous replies for your reference. Approximately 350 Southeast Asians, including from Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore are reportedly in Iraq and Syria. 350 Southeast Asians. Many of them have joined ISIS and may return to threaten our security here, as the commander of the Indonesian National Armed Forces warned recently. The threats to our region are indeed real. Some Malaysians and Indonesians are fighting for ISIS and have formed the militant group from the archipelago, from the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria. In other words, an archipelagic group here. This group adds to the threat from existing terrorist networks such as JI. Leaders from organised militant groups in this region such as Abu Bakar Bashir in Indonesia have also pledged allegiance to ISIS and declared their similar intent to establish an Islamic State in Southeast Asia. In Malaysia, the authorities arrested militants in April this year and these militants were inspired by ISIS and had planned to attack pubs, a disco and a beer brewery in Malaysia. ISIS, AQ, JI and their supporters target Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia because they have three goals in common. First, the political aim to overthrow legitimate governments and establish an Islamic Caliphate through violence and brutality, including against innocent civilians. Second, using twisted religious beliefs to mislead and radicalise followers to commit atrocities, even suicide attacks, for their political goals. And lastly, ISIS like AQ has ambitions to extend and entrench its terror network beyond its region.

For ISIS, two additional factors are of concern. ISIS can potentially sustain its efforts for a protracted period from the rich oil resources in occupied territories. ISIS has also embarked on an effective recruitment strategy, including the sophisticated use of internet and social media, to attract jihadists from around the world to join its efforts and to extend its linkages to other religious militant groups. An estimated 10,000 to 20,000 foreigners have been reported to be in Iraq and Syria. As we did before Al-Qaeda against Al-Qaeda and JI. Singapore must resolutely oppose the spread of terrorism in order to safeguard our security here. It is in Singapore's interest to support the multinational efforts against ISIS. ISIS exports terrorism to our region, whether by sending foreign terrorists to carry out terrorist operations or by radicalising regional elements who engage in violence in Iraq, Syria and subsequently their home countries. If this terrorism threat is allowed to grow and spread, innocent civilians here and elsewhere could be endangered and killed. By contributing to the international effort to tackle the threat at source, we are contributing directly to our own security.

This is why Singapore took a clear public stand against ISIS at the 10th Asia-Europe Meeting in October this year and the UN General Assembly in September respectively. Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs have said that Singapore strongly condemns ISIS' terrorist actions and welcomes the formation of a broad, multinational coalition to combat the threat from ISIS. Singapore has supported UN Security Council Resolution 2170, which condemns in the strongest terms the terrorist acts and violent ideologies of extremist groups, and urges UN member states to combat terrorism. Singapore also co-sponsored UN Security Council Resolution 2178, which went one step further by requiring all nations to make it a serious, prosecutable crime for their nationals to join extremist groups such as ISIS. Singapore has undertaken counter-terrorism cooperation with international partners to prevent the movement of known foreign terrorist fighters, and to stem the flow of financing to ISIS.

This is also why the SAF has participated in multinational coalition efforts against religious extremists who pose a terrorist threat to Singapore and Singaporeans. We did it in Afghanistan against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. The SAF will continue to participate in such efforts to stop the radicalising influence of terror groups that can harm our citizens here. Thus the SAF will contribute assets and personnel to Operation Inherent Resolve, the US-led multinational coalition to combat ISIS. We will join 33 other countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan, Japan, South Korea, Great Britain, France and Canada, that have provided military support or humanitarian aid to the coalition.

The SAF will offer contributions within our means that are sustainable and useful to the efforts to combat ISIS. These will include SAF liaison and planning officers to the United States Central Command and the Combined Joint Task Force HQ, a KC-135R tanker aircraft for air-to-air refuelling and an Imagery Analysis Team. These assets proved effective in our previous contributions and were appreciated by our international partners there. However, for the efforts against ISIS, there will be no combat troops on the ground in Iraq and Syria, instead SAF soldiers will operate from surrounding countries together with other coalition forces.

Nevertheless, there will be risks to our SAF servicemen as they carry out their missions. To mitigate these risks, we will ensure that our servicemen are well equipped, and receive additional training in weapon handling, and against Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), and other hostile elements.

Whether the terrorism threat is led by ISIS, Al-Qaeda or other religious extremist groups, we must tackle it resolutely and use a multipronged approach, as this Government has been doing in order to keep our citizens safe. We recognise the key roles that international partnerships play, as in the exchange of information and joint efforts against transnational terrorist elements. But just as importantly, Singaporeans at home must understand that the radical ideology and acts committed by a small misguided extremist group in the name of Islam do not represent the majority of believers, who condemn these extremists as going against the teachings of Islam. Our Muslim religious and community leaders, including Mufti Dr Mohamed Fatris Bin Bakaram, have denounced ISIS unequivocally. The Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG) has been actively countering the spread of terrorism. Their efforts have been critical in de-radicalising former JI operatives and helping rehabilitate them back into society.

Singapore's integrated approach against religious extremism is working. And one of its most important achievements is that we have maintained the trust and harmony between Singaporeans of different faiths, and indeed strengthened it over time as we fought this common threat together. I know that some Singaporeans may become fearful because of this terrorism threat and what Singapore must do to counter it. We should individually take appropriate actions to be alert and guard ourselves as we go about our daily lives. But we must not allow terrorists to paralyse us with fear, to prevent us from doing that which is necessary, or let them sow discord and distrust amongst us. If we relent, cower, and look upon each other with suspicion and mistrust in the face of their threats, then the terrorists will have already fractured our resolve.

The SAF will work with the Ministry of Home Affairs to remain vigilant and step up security where needed to counter this threat and protect Singaporeans. Most importantly, Singaporeans must continue to be united and cohesive to combat this terrorism threat effectively.