SINGAPORE - At an event to honour volunteers who help counsel self-radicalised individuals, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong revealed he had friends who turned to extremism and said such people needed help to get back on the right path.

PM Wong was giving a speech on Sept 13 as the guest-of-honour 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, Muis, mosque leaders, various community organisations, and volunteers and their families.

PM Wong said with self-radicalisation on the rise in Singapore, security operations alone could not address the root of the problem: a dangerous misinterpretation of religions that fuelled their 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: “I know it’s 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.”

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

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, Associate Professor Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim.

PM Wong said the threat Singapore faces has evolved, with the range of extremist ideologies widening beyond religious extremism.

“We see people drawn to neo-Nazi movements or the incel movement…a subculture known for its extreme resentment and hostility towards women.”

Incel is short for “involuntary celibate”, and refers to a sub-culture of mostly men who are unable to find a romantic or sexual partner despite desiring one. This community hates women and those they perceive as more sexually successful.

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PM Wong said of the 150 Singaporeans who were dealt with under the Internal Security Act (ISA) since 2002, close to 85 per cent have made progress, with many reintegrating into society, starting businesses or pursuing higher education and finding meaningful careers.

He cited

two recent

cases of Singaporeans issued restriction orders under the ISA.

One was a 30-year-old who aspired to take up arms for Turkey in its territorial disputes with Greece.

Said PM Wong: “His motives were not religiously motivated. Instead, it was fuelled by personal grievances and his desire to find meaning in overthrowing what he thought were oppressive regimes.”

The other was a 14-year-old who was self-radicalised by a toxic mix of extremist ideologies - a self-professed ISIS supporter who also subscribed to far-right extremism and identified as an incel.

PM Wong added: “Both are young, and that is very worrying for us, because we are seeing more cases of young Singaporeans succumbing to extremist ideologies.”

Since 2015 , 18 youths between 14 and 20 years old have been dealt with under the ISA, he said. More than two-thirds of them emerged in just the last five years, he added.

PM Wong highlighted four ways for Singapore to respond to such threats today.

First, the country will deepen international cooperation, exchanging intelligence, expertise and resources to disrupt terrorist plans, as terrorism knows no borders.

Second, every Singaporean must remain vigilant in the fight against extremism, as external groups like ISIS continue to inspire followers, and self-radicalisation is on the rise here .

Third, Singapore will strengthen its rehabilitation capabilities, going beyond Islamic religious counselling, considering how Singaporeans are succumbing to a wider range of extremist ideologies.

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PM Wong said Singapore has developed several intervention techniques tailored for self-radicalised youth. These include mentorship, cyber wellness, and programmes to improve their social skills.

He cited the rehabilitation of the 16-year-old Singaporean Christian youth who was detained in December 2020, after he was radicalised by online far-right extremist propaganda and planned to attack Muslims at two mosques.

He received counselling from a Christian pastor who taught him the virtues of non-violence and to appreciate inter-faith harmony. He also had two mentors who provided him with social support and guidance.

He was released in January 2024, and is now continuing his studies at an institute of higher learning .

Finally, Singapore must continue building strong and cohesive bonds.

Said PM Wong: “Self radicalisation often preys on those who feel more isolated. Then they turn to online sources to find meaning, and they stumble upon extremist materials, and then they get led astray.”

To counter that, Singapore has to foster belonging, human connections and trust.

He paid tribute to Ustaz Mohamad Hasbi Hassan and the late Ustaz Ali Haji Mohamed, who co-founded the RRG in 2003, and who died in 2023 at the age of 75 .

The RRG is a voluntary group which trains religious teachers to counsel those who have been influenced or misguided by radical teachings. Ustaz Ali also set up the RRG Resource and Counselling Centre in 2014.

PM Wong said these religious leaders risked being branded as munafiq, or hypocrites, for working with the Government, while community volunteers faced hostile reactions from detainees’ families.

PM Wong said Singapore has worked hard for 60 years to strengthen ties across race and religion.

“This remains vital, but we must also guard against new divides like those arising from social and economic inequality, because left unchecked, they can weaken trust and evoke the cohesion we have painstakingly built up,” he said.

PM Wong said Singapore’s diversity has always been the secret to Singapore’s success.

He added: “This responsibility does not lie with the government alone, but also with all of us....So I look forward to working closely with all of you on this shared objective to keep Singapore safe, secure and harmonious for many more generations to come.”

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