Terror threat closer than S’poreans think, says minister

SINGAPORE: The scourge of terrorism is closer than Singaporeans think, said Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong.

The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (IS) terror group is already in Marawi, he noted, and could possibly establish itself in Myanmar's Rakhine state, where Rohingya refugees are fleeing fighting between the military and militants.

These developments, coupled with the presence of self-radicalised individuals, mean Singaporeans must prepare themselves for an eventual terrorist attack, he said.

The Home Affairs Ministry had announced the arrests of two Singaporeans under the Internal Security Act a day earlier, the latest in a string of terrorism-related arrests this year.

Goh said the real challenge would come after a terror attack.

“What will that mean for race relations – that’s No 1.

“If as a result of (an attack) race relations becomes fragile, broken, collapsed, then the terrorists would have achieved their purpose,” he said.

He listed terrorism as one of two future challenges Singapore would face, in response to a question during the dialogue at the National University of Singapore.

“The other challenge is how to get youngsters to ‘accept politically’ slower growth in their incomes, given that Singapore will no longer see high economic growth of 8% to 9%. This means incomes may grow at a slower rate of 2% to 3%, but salaries will start from a higher base.

“If we can’t convince you on that and if you have a change in government, and people think life will get better, I can tell you that life will get worse, very quickly, because the new government still will not be able to produce 5% to 6%,” he added.