Singapore
Overview: Singapore continued to identify counterterrorism as the nation’s top security policy priority and has a comprehensive CT strategy based on global and regional trends. The strategy included vigilant security measures, regional and international law enforcement cooperation, efforts to counter radicalization to violence, and a campaign to prepare the populace for possible attacks. Singapore was a committed, active, and effective CT partner in 2021. CT remained a pillar of the security relationship between Singaporean and U.S. law enforcement and security services. Cooperation on CT and information sharing continued during 2021. Singapore’s domestic CT apparatus and its ability to detect, deter, and disrupt threats remained effective. The government’s 2021 terrorism threat assessment report continued to identify global terrorist networks and domestically “self-radicalized” individuals influenced by online material as the prime terrorism threats.
2021 Terrorist Incidents: There were no reported terrorist incidents in Singapore in 2021.
Legislation, Law Enforcement, and Border Security: Singapore uses its Internal Security Act (ISA) to arrest and detain suspected terrorists. The ISA authorizes the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), with the consent of the president, to order arrests and detentions without a warrant, trial, or full judicial due process, if it is determined that individuals pose a threat to national security. There were no changes to terrorism-related legislation in 2021, but amendments to the Police Force Act passed in August enhanced the police’s operational capabilities, powers, and readiness during a crisis such as terrorist incidents.
Singapore detained several individuals under ISA for terrorism-related activities in 2021, including a 20-year-old Singaporean in March for reportedly plotting to attack and kill Jews at a synagogue, the first plan that was allegedly motivated by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Singapore also detained a Singaporean woman for allegedly supporting ISIS. Singapore released six Singaporeans who were previously detained under ISA, after assessing their rehabilitation progress and determining the individuals no longer posed a security threat that required preventive detention. Singapore allowed restriction orders against seven individuals to lapse.
Security forces continued to be on heightened alert and the Singapore Police Force and Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) enhanced border security measures and patrols. Singapore’s law enforcement and security services were capable of proactively detecting, deterring, and preventing acts of terrorism, including through interagency cooperation, regular exercises, and information sharing.
Singapore maintains a “not if, but when” stance regarding the likelihood of terrorist attacks within the country. The government’s SGSecure public awareness campaign, which aims to enhance emergency preparedness and community resilience, has used online programs and training sessions during the COVID-19 global pandemic. Under SGSecure, different government agencies also reached out to various segments of the community, such as schools, workplaces, and religious organizations.
To detect possible terrorist movements by air into or transiting through the country, Singapore’s primary border security agency, ICA, implemented Advance Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record data collection in 2019. ICA enhanced its border capabilities by operationalizing a multimodal biometrics clearance concept to detect fraudulent travel documents.
Countering the Financing of Terrorism: Singapore is a member of FATF and APG, and its Suspicious Transaction Reporting Office is a member of the Egmont Group. Singapore published its Terrorism Financing National Risk Assessment in 2020, identifying key CFT threats and vulnerabilities. There were no legislative changes in 2021, but Parliament passed an act that allowed the central bank to regulate cryptocurrencies, arguing they had a higher inherent terrorism financing risk.
Singapore convicted and sentenced a Singaporean man under the Terrorism (Suppression of Financing) Act in September to 46 months in prison for supporting ISIS with a total of $750. In December a Bangladeshi national was charged for terrorism financing for allegedly transferring $650 to support ISIS. The Monetary Authority of Singapore conducted a series of counterterrorism financing supervisory examinations of payment service providers, including remittance agents in 2021 to assess the adequacy of existing controls.
Countering Violent Extremism: Through entities such as the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research and the Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG), Singapore serves as a regional CVE hub. The government encourages interreligious and interethnic dialogue through Interracial and Religious Confidence Circles, the interagency Aftercare Group, and local community fora that bring leaders from Singapore’s religious and ethnic communities together to discuss issues of concern and build trust. The Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (MUIS), the Islamic authority in charge of Muslim affairs, maintains a social media presence and holds outreach and educational events to counter terrorist propaganda and recruitment efforts. MUIS manages the Asatizah Recognition Scheme that vets Islamic Religious Council teachers and scholars in Singapore.
RRG, a volunteer organization made up of religious scholars and teachers, has had success in counseling detainees held under the ISA through a comprehensive program involving religious and psychological counseling. RRG also operates a resource and counseling center for the Muslim community and held virtual community events and engagement sessions during the COVID-19 pandemic, including to raise awareness about the threats of online radicalization to violence. RRG and the Interagency Aftercare Group also conduct counter-ideology outreach activities for students and youths. In February, the government announced it was adjusting its rehabilitation program to include nonideological factors that led to radicalization to violence, as ISA detainees get younger. In January, the government launched the Online Industry Safety and Security Watch Group, which enabled the police and tech companies to share information to counter terrorism, among other crimes, and the spread of violent extremist propaganda through digital platforms.
International and Regional Cooperation: Singapore is an active participant in CT cooperation efforts in ASEAN, ARF, ADMM, and APEC. The nation is a strong advocate for the ASEAN “Our Eyes” regional initiative, which strives for ministerial-level CT information sharing. Singapore participated in the Aqaba Process Virtual Meeting in September, INTERPOL’s Project Pacific working group to discuss CT issues in November, and the Third Subregional Meeting on Counterterrorism in December. Singapore operationalized and officially opened the Counterterrorism Information Facility in 2021, a Singapore-led initiative to increase information sharing among military and law enforcement agencies.