Tag: Singapore

Challenge Lies In Fighting IS Ideology, Not Group

KUALA LUMPUR — The threat of the Islamic State looms large over Malaysia, where the authorities have arrested dozens of suspected militants and uncovered several terror plots planned in the name of the militant group in recent months.

Those detained come from all walks of life, making it extremely challenging, if not impossible, for the authorities to profile suspects and pre-empt attacks.

The country’s top counterterrorism official Ayub Khan said the challenge of dealing with the Islamic State is having to fight ideology rather than an organisation. “(The Islamic State’s) doors are open to anybody … We have our work cut out for us as we are monitoring not just organisations or groups, but also individuals,” he said.

In the most recent case, six suspected militants were charged last week — the youngest being a 17-year-old. The six were part of a group of 12 who were arrested near Kuala Lumpur last month for plans to attack Putrajaya, the federal parliament and entertainment venues with explosives.

The police also detained one of the youngest Malaysians who wanted to join the group in February — a 14-year-old girl who planned to marry a man, 22, in Egypt before heading to Syria to join the militant cause.

Since April 2013, Malaysia has arrested 107 for suspected militant activities. They include military personnel, civil servants and university students, among others — a worrying sign that even people who serve the nation are buying into the group’s ideology. Two men from the Royal Malaysian Air Force were charged last month along with four other suspected militants for plotting to kidnap high-profile figures, rob banks and raid armed-forces installations.

Malaysia passed the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act Bill last month, giving the police sweeping powers to arrest and detain those suspected of terrorist activities.

Last August, the police arrested 19 who had formulated plans to bomb pubs and a Malaysian brewery managed by Carlsberg. These were targeted reportedly because Islam forbids the consumption of alcohol.

A group of radicals arrested last year were planning to attack several targets in Malaysia and had their sights set on a wider campaign — the creation of an Islamic caliphate that includes Singapore, said the counterterrorism division.

The Islamic State has been adept at spreading its propaganda on social media, making it difficult for authorities to distinguish when pre-emptive action should be taken.

“We don’t go after these sympathisers as there is no evidence to show they are involved,” Mr Ayub said, but added that the counterterrorism division is taking all possible measures for intelligence gathering and making arrests. Officers are also sent to engage the people by giving talks at schools.

When asked if Singapore and Malaysia are on high alert for attacks, Mr Ayub replied: “The IS threat is a global problem. We are working with other countries through the exchange of information and intelligence.”

Of the 200 Malaysians who were fighting in Iraq and Syria, some have died as suicide bombers and others in combat.

Indonesia faces a similar growing threat from the Islamic State and launched a six-month operation in April to crack down on militants with suspected links to the group. The authorities believe about 500 Indonesians have joined the group in Syria and Iraq. AGENCIES

Source: www.todayonline.com

May 28, 2015
MUFTI: Lapor Individu Berfahaman Radikal Kewajipan Agama

Mufti Ustaz Dr Mohamed Fatris Bakaram (gambar) berkata setiap rakyat mempunyai tanggungjawab membantu orang yang menunjukkan tanda dipengaruhi fahaman radikal tentang agama mendapatkan bimbingan betul.

Bahkan, melaporkan kepada pihak berkuasa seseorang yang cenderung melakukan perkara yang melanggar undang-undang ialah satu kewajipan agama.

“Jika anak-anak muda kita menunjukkan tanda bahawa mereka telah sampai satu peringkat yang sangat radikal sampai ibu bapa berasa ia di luar kemampuan mereka untuk membimbing, dan (anak muda itu) menunjukkan kecenderungan melakukan sesuatu yang melanggar undang-undang, maka menjadi kewajipan (kita) melaporkan mereka kepada pihak berkuasa.

“Ini tidak boleh dilihat sebagai satu penganiayaan atau mengorbankan anak sendiri, tetapi satu kewajipan setiap warganegara, malah setiap ibu bapa, untuk membantu anak mereka dan menyelamatkan anak mereka itu,” ujar Ustaz Fatris.

Beliau berkata demikian ketika diminta mengulas mengenai kes baru dua belia radikal – seorang diberkas dan seorang lagi ditahan – di bawah Akta Keselamatan Dalam Negeri (ISA).

Ustaz Fatris berkata juga menjadi tanggungjawab, termasuk di sisi agama, untuk keluarga, ibu bapa, guru, sahabat, sebagai contoh, berwaspada dan memerhatikan.

“Jika kita mendapati ada seorang yang kita kenali, baik seorang rapat dengan kita sekalipun, menunjukkan tanda awal dia terpengaruh oleh pandangan sempit dan radikal tentang agama, hendaklah kita mengorak langkah membantunya,” katanya.

Orang ramai boleh membantu individu yang menunjukkan tanda dipengaruh fahaman radikal dengan memberi jawapan sahih bagi persoalan yang dalam fikirannya, ujar beliau.

Jika berasa tidak berupaya memberi jawapan itu, mereka boleh merujuk individu tersebut kepada asatizah bertauliah.

Mereka juga boleh pergi ke masjid kerana ada t pegawai agama terlatih dan berkelayakan memberi panduan, ujar Ustaz Fatris.

“Sekiranya ini tidak diberi perhatian, dibimbangi ia akan sampai ke peringkat anak itu tidak dapat dibantu, tidak dapat dibimbing dan tidak dapat diselamatkan,” tambah beliau.

Semasa diminta mengulas, Ketua Eksekutif Majlis Ugama Islam Singapura (Muis), Haji Abdul Razak Hassan Maricar, berkata Muis akan memperluas pendekatannya berhubung belia.

Ini walaupun Muis telah merombak pendidikan Islam beberapa tahun lalu untuk menjadikannya lebih sesuai kepada belia dan turut membincangkan isu semasa yang dihadapi masyarakat.

“Kami akan meningkatkan sesi perbincangan dengan pelajar di institusi pengajian tinggi. Kami juga akan memastikan masjid lebih peka dan bersedia menangani isu pengganasan dan individu radikal sendiri,” ujar beliau.

Source: http://beritaharian.sg

May 28, 2015
Pinoy Lawyer Thinks Ello’s Account Hacked By SG

A Filipino site, ManilaSpeak.com, recently interviewed their “foreign law expert”, Attorney Joyce Domingo Dapat, with regard to the arrest of Edz Ello in Singapore [Link].

ManilaSpeak is said to be “an aggregator of great minds” [Link]. The site aims to bring together the “most dynamic” Filipino opinion-makers.

“ManilaSpeak was borne out of a desire to give readers intellectual, well-researched opinion. We hope to influence movers and shakers – from leaders of the nation to leaders in lifestyle – in our own humble way,” the site says.

ManilaSpeak wrote, “A Filipino registered nurse, Edz Ello, who is working in Singapore is now facing a unique kind of case. He was arrested due to an alleged Facebook post that maligned Singaporeans. He is now being charged with sedition and lying by the police and was laid off from work by the Tan Tock Seng Hospital.”

In the interview, the Attorney, Ms Dapat, said that what Tan Tock Seng Hospital “did to” Mr Ello may be considered unjust because “there should be a proper charge with evidence related to his work, not merely a comment on Singapore as a whole”.

“If no one saw him type the post, then how can they be sure that his account was indeed not hacked? This is a professional we are talking about. How come his spelling in the post is atrocious? Something does not connect,” she said.

Subsequently, the Singapore police spent some time doing digital forensic analysis of the computing devices Mr Ello used as well as examining server logs (‘FT investigation delay due to ‘digital forensic analysis’‘).

But Ms Dapat rebutted, “They still cannot prove that he was the one who typed the post. Also the tone of the post resembles Singaporean speech and spelling.” Ms Dapat seems to imply that it was a Singaporean behind those posts instead.

The following is the seditious post allegedly made by Mr Ello:

Ms Dapat said that the hospital’s move to lay off Edz Ello is unjust given that nothing has been proven yet.

“I guess they did it because of fear that their reputation will suffer. A similar case occurred when another person posted disparaging remarks against the prime minister. There was no due process, he was similarly just removed from work,” she said.

Ms Dapat felt that it was wrong to impound Mr Ello’s passport.

“This is a violation of the right to travel if the person has not yet been convicted and is not in the black list. This is a basic violation of human rights,” she said.

With regard to the $10,000 bail set for Mr Ello’s case, Ms Dapat said, “The biggest mistake of Mr. Ello was that he lied to the police. But then again, maybe he was scared. He is still young. Imagine you’re in a different country then suddenly somebody is arresting you. Of course, you would be afraid. So the bail was doubled. SGD5,000 for sedition and SGD5,000 for lying.”

Ms Dapat thinks it would be difficult for Singapore to prove sedition.

“Also cybercrime is so hard to prove. Also, all those who saw the post but did not report it may also be called conspirators. What’s important in the proving sedition is proving intent to wreak havoc in Singapore,” she said.

Finally, Ms Dapat seems to think that Filipinos are “diligent” and “speak better English”. She also thinks that Filipino is one of the 4 major races in Singapore.

She said, “According to our kababayans, Singaporeans really look at Filipinos as their competition given that we are diligent and speak better English. You really have to be careful about what you say. Also you have to consider that there are an average of 4 different cultures in that country: Indians, Malaysians, Chinese, and Filipinos. You have to be careful not to offend anyone with your remarks.”

In any case, Ms Dapat might wish to know that Edz Ello has confessed that he made the 3 offending posts. As TTSH said on 9 January 2015:

Source: www.tremeritus.com

May 27, 2015
Abdul Rahman Mohamed: MUIS Perlu Beri Bimbingan Tentang Ajaran Tareqat Naqsabandiyah

Pada tahun 2013, semasa isu Tareqat Naqsabandiyah pimpinan Sheikh Nazim Haqqani dan Hisham Kabbani sedang hot diperkatakan di Malaysia tentang dakwaan menyebarkan ajaran kesesatan, saya telah menulis pada majlis fatwa Muis utk mengeluarkan fatwanya tentang golongan ini dan ajaran Hisham Kabbani yg semakin menular di Singapura hingga ke hari ini.

http://www.utusan.com.my/berita/nasional/tarekat-baharu-ancam-umat-islam-1.94756

Saya minta agar Muis memberikan pencerahan sekiranya golongan adalah benar tidak salah katakan sahaja mereka itu benar, jangan biarkan masyarakat umum bingung dan keliru.

Hingga ke hari ini Permohonan Rasmi saya meminta fatwa tiada jawaban dari Muis.

Membuat saya merasakan jabatan fatwa Muis ada menyembunyi sesuatu.

Alasan yg diberikan setelah berapa kali ditanya hanya,
” Ada pihak2 yg tidak setuju perkara ini dibincangkan selanjutnya”, itu sahaja.

Di America gololongan ini mendapatkan perlindungan pihak berkuasa khususnya CIA kerana dikatakan telah membantu dalam usaha membanteras kefahaman radikal dan menentang pengganasan dengan slogan ajaran mereka Peace and Love.

— with Fatris Bakaram.

Source: Abdul Rahman Mohamed

May 27, 2015
2 Self-Radicalised Singaporean Youths Arrested, Detained Under ISA

A Singaporean youth has been detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for terrorism-related activities since April this year, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) announced on Wednesday (May 27).

Additionally, another youth was arrested in May under the ISA for further investigations into the extent of his radicalisation.

The youth detained since April, M Arifil Azim Putra Norja’i, a 19-year-old post-secondary student, is the first known self-radicalised Singaporean to harbour the intention to carry out violent attacks in Singapore, said MHA.

Investigations showed that he had made plans to join the terrorist group, Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), and that his radicalisation began around 2013 when he started viewing terrorist propaganda online, said MHA.

The ministry said Arifil then grew to support the radical ideology and violent tactics of ISIS, and befriended individuals online whom he thought could help him join the terrorist group. Arifil also actively surfed the Internet for information on travel routes to Syria so that he could engage in armed violence there, and had done research on making improvised explosive devices.

Arifil also revealed that if he was unable to join ISIS in Syria, he intended to carry out violent attacks in Singapore, said MHA. He had put “considerable thought” into how he would attack key facilities and assassinate Government leaders. If he was unable to carry out these plans, Arifil planned to carry out attacks in public places “in order to strike fear within our society”, using “easily available” weapons such as knives, added the ministry.

His intentions to carry out violent attacks were subsequently corroborated by several persons who said he had tried to recruit them to help carry out these plans, according to the MHA. Investigations showed that while these people did not fall prey to Arifil’s attempts to recruit them, they also did not alert the authorities about him, it added.

“Fortunately, another person who knew Arifil noticed the changes in him, and had brought him to the attention of the authorities, who were then able to investigate the matter and take action before he could carry out his violent attack plans in Singapore,” said MHA.

The ministry added that another radicalised Singaporean post-secondary youth, 17, was arrested in May under the ISA for further investigations into the extent of his radicalisation. His family was informed of his arrest, and will be kept informed of the outcome of the investigations.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Teo Chee Hean said Singapore faces real threats from radicalisation, similar to other countries.

“Our community leaders have worked hard to counter radical ideology. And we should all, from all communities in Singapore, support one another. … All of us must play our part. If you know or suspect anyone who is becoming radicalised, please notify the authorities early,” Mr Teo said.

“You may be helping to save that person from harming himself and others. And our security agencies will do their utmost to detect and prevent any terrorist attacks.”

FAMILY, FRIENDS PLAY ROLE IN PREVENTING RADICALISATION

The ministry said the two young Singaporeans who have been radicalised demonstrate that youth in Singapore can become radicalised too, in particular through the internet.

The ministry said that family members, friends, colleagues and members of the public have an important role to play in protecting fellow Singaporeans from radicalisation and engaging in terrorist activities.

“This should be done early, so that Singaporeans at risk of becoming radicalised can be provided proper guidance, supervision and religious instruction, and be saved. Religious institutions and teachers also have an important role to play in engaging young Singaporeans when they have questions on religious matters, and steering them in the right direction,” said the MHA.

It added that anyone who knows or suspects that a person is radicalised should promptly call the ISD Counter-Terrorism Centre hotline 1800-2626-473 (1800-2626-ISD).

“This could save such individuals and allow them to be helped and counselled, so that they are prevented from engaging in violent activities that may cause harm to themselves and others,” said the MHA.

THREE JI MEMBERS RELEASED

The MHA also announced in a separate release that three Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) members were released in February and May this year after they were “assessed to no longer pose a security threat that required preventive detention”.

The JI members are Sahrudin Mohd Sapian, Mohamed Rafee Abdul Rahman and Mohamed Rashid Zainal Abidin, it said.

Sahrudin and Rafee were JI members detained under the ISA in February 2012. They had undergone terrorist training in Afghanistan in 2000, and both men were released from detention and placed on Restriction Orders (RO) on Feb 24, 2014, said MHA.

The ministry added that Rashid, who was detained under the ISA in May 2006, was a JI member who had undergone terrorist training in south Philippines. He was released from detention and placed on RO on May 26, 2014.

Additionally, the ROs against four JI members and one self-radicalised individual were allowed to lapse between June 2014 and April 2015. The JI members were Ab Wahab Ahmad, Syed Ibrahim, Ibrahim Mohd Noor and Jahpar Osman, while the self-radicalised individual was Muhammad Thahir Shaik Dawood.

“All five men had been cooperative and responsive to rehabilitation efforts,” said MHA.

Source: www.channelnewsasia.com

May 27, 2015