Preventing Radicalisation of Young Singaporeans, and Identifying and Supporting Those at Risk

Assoc Prof Razwana Begum Abdul Rahim asked the Minister for Home Affairs what programmes or resources are in place to help community organisations in Singapore, (i) recognise early signs of radicalisation in young people and (ii) support young people who are at risk of radicalisation or are exhibiting signs of radicalisation.

Mr Desmond Choo asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) what measures are implemented in schools to prevent self-radicalisation amongst youths; (b) whether such measures have been effective; (c) whether the Online Safety Act has been effective in protecting youths in Singapore from harmful content that can cause self-radicalisation; and (d) if not, what further measures will the Ministry implement to guard against self-radicalisation, especially amongst youths.

My reply will address the questions raised by Mr Desmond Choo and Assoc Prof Razwana Begum in today’s Order Paper, as well as similar questions raised by Assoc Prof Razwana Begum1,2,3 for the subsequent Sitting.

In Singapore, the terrorism threat comes primarily from self-radicalised individuals who have been influenced by extremist materials online. The number of radicalised youths has increased in recent years and they are increasingly younger.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) adopts a whole-of-society approach to tackle this threat. We have strengthened our legislative levers to block access to online extremist messaging and ideologies. For example, the Online Safety (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, which amended the Broadcasting Act, and Online Criminal Harms Act allow the Government to disable access to egregious or criminal content online, including those that advocate terrorism and incite violence. However, it is not possible to block all extremist content, and new sites and accounts can easily be created.

As such, public education remains essential to our strategy to counter extremism. The Internal Security Department (ISD) works with Government agencies and community groups to sensitise the public to the dangers of extremist ideas. The Ministry of Education (MOE) is a key partner of ISD’s outreach to schools and Institutes of Higher Learning. Last year, ISD organised more than 60 outreach events for over 2,000 participants, including students, educators and school counsellors. ISD works with MOE to train school counsellors and student welfare officers on behavioural indicators and appropriate interventions, including early reporting, for students who may be at risk of radicalisation. ISD and MOE have jointly produced an online guide for parents and guardians on protecting their children from radicalisation.

MOE also ensures that students learn about the importance of social cohesion and racial and religious harmony. Through subjects like Social Studies and History, students learn about the negative impact of extremist ideas, prejudice and stereotypes, and how these can be countered. In Character and Citizenship Education, students learn to develop empathy and respect for one another. They learn to recognise harmful content and be more discerning of information they get from different sources, including online. Learning journeys to places of worship and heritage sites, and the celebration of cultural festivals, also help the students develop an appreciation of and a stronger sensitivity to racial and religious issues.

Schools have established a peer support structure, where students are taught to speak up for their peers when their peers experience racism and hate speech. Through Co-Curricular Activities and other school experiences, students interact with one another, regardless of background. These social bonds can help counter the impact of exclusivist or extremist ideologies.

Beyond the efforts in schools, ISD works with community partners, such as the Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG) and Inter-Agency Aftercare Group (ACG), to strengthen the community’s resilience to extremist ideas. For example, RRG hosts visits to its Resource and Counselling Centre and Majulah Gallery, and conducts youth forums on countering violent extremism.

Underpinning our public outreach efforts is the SGSecure movement. One of the personas featured in the SGSecure campaign launched last year is the "True Friend", someone who can spot early signs of radicalisation and shows care for a friend who is potentially radicalised, by getting help for him from the authorities. The SGSecure website has a resource kit on signs of radicalisation and the reporting channels available. This resource kit is disseminated to religious and community organisations, self-help groups and counselling hotline operators.

Another way to reach out to youths is through digital content. In July, we launched the SGSecure Instagram account. These efforts aim to raise awareness of the role individuals can play in countering terrorism. RRG has also expanded its digital outreach efforts through its TikTok account which was launched in June 2023.

It is also important to provide avenues for our people to discuss such issues. The Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) encourages dialogues and other initiatives to discuss sensitive issues relating to race and religion in a responsible and respectful manner. For example, the Racial and Religious Harmony Circles bring together people from different races and faiths to promote cross-cultural interactions and shared experiences. There are also youth-centric initiatives, such as OnePeople.SG’s annual HarmonyWorks! Conference, where youths can come together to discuss issues concerning racial and religious relations. The National Youth Council has also developed civic conversation toolkits to facilitate meaningful and respectful discussions amongst youths on complex yet important issues, including race and religion.

Finally, ISD partners RRG and ACG to rehabilitate radicalised youths. For example, RRG’s “Youth Counselling Manual” provides a structured and customised religious counselling approach for them. To aid their reintegration into society, ISD minimises disruption to their education and arranges for them to participate in relevant community programmes. A mentoring programme has been introduced to provide a role model to guide the youths in personal growth and development.

These rehabilitation efforts have seen some success. Of the 13 self-radicalised youth cases since 2015, four out of seven who were detained have since been released. Of the six who were issued with Restriction Orders (ROs), ISD has allowed the ROs of three of them to lapse.

I thank Members of this House for your strong support, too. MHA will continue to work closely with Government agencies and the community to counter the threat of terrorism and violent extremism. Our strongest defence is our collective vigilance, preparedness, resilience and unity.