PM Wong Stresses Need to Help Those Who Turn to Extremism

At an event to honour volunteers who help counsel self-radicalised individuals, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong revealed that he had friends who turned to extremism, as he stressed the need to help those radicalised get back on the right path.

- Shermaine Ang

PM Wong was speaking on Sept 13 at the annual Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) appreciation lunch for community volunteers at Parkroyal Collection Marina Bay.

They included members of the Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG), Inter-Agency Aftercare Group, Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis), mosque leaders, various community organisations, and volunteers and their families.

PM Wong said that with self-radicalisation on the rise in Singapore, security operations alone cannot address the root of the problem: A dangerous misinterpretation of religions that fuelled individuals' extremism.

He said religious leaders and community volunteers hence play an important role in the rehabilitation of those who were self-radicalised here.

And he revealed to the 400 guests how he knew friends who fell by the wayside.

He said: "If you see a loved one succumbing to extremist ideologies, please help to report them early so that they can receive help.

"I know it is not easy. I, too, have friends who have gone astray. I knew them when they were younger, and I would never have expected them to turn to extremism.

"But these things can happen, and when they do, we want to be able to act early and help them get back on the right path as soon as possible."

The lunch has been held every year since 2005 to thank volunteers and organisations for their contributions and support for MHA's counter-terrorism rehabilitation and social reintegration programmes, as well as in partnering community counter-ideology efforts.

This year, MHA marks 20 years of government-community partnership in safeguarding Singapore's security.

Also in attendance were Coordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Home Affairs K. Shanmugam, and Acting Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs and Senior Minister of State for Home Affairs Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim.