SINGAPORE — Revealing on the eve of National Day that there will be enhanced land, air and sea security measures for the festivities on Tuesday (Aug 9) — measures that would also apply to future key events — Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen called on Singaporeans to prepare themselves to live under a prolonged threat of terrorism, which could span the next two decades, or even beyond. 

The terrorist threat is a “long-term” one and comes in waves, and with each wave there will be new characteristics, said Dr Ng in a media briefing at the National Stadium on Monday, held in the wake of the arrest of six men last Friday by Indonesian authorities over an alleged plot to fire rockets at Marina Bay from Batam.

The Al Qaeda “wave” — the group that carried out the 9/11 attacks — lasted nearly 15 years. “For this current wave, it may take as long, even longer. And even if the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis, also known as IS) is weakened, there’s every likelihood that another extremist group will come in, take leadership, gain a foothold,” said Dr Ng. This is something Singaporeans must understand, to be able to respond, he added.  

During his visit to the National Stadium, Dr Ng also viewed security preparations for the NDP, such as those by the Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosive Defence Group. 

The National Stadium, where the NDP is being held, has been gazetted. This means that the HOME team agencies and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) have powers to check vehicles and individuals, and put exclusion zones in place.

At sea, there will be no entry and no anchoring zones for ships for the duration of the NDP, as possible areas where attacks could be launched from are identified. Both the Navy and the Police Coast Guard have also stepped up patrols, and aerial defenses have been beefed up.

Security will be stepped up not just for NDP, but for other key events, noted Dr Ng. Going forward, there will be more  training exercises, especially in the urban setting, he said.

Intelligence sharing is also a key strategy in the fight against terrorism, and new tactics by terrorists are constantly being monitored by the Singapore Armed Forces, pointed out Dr Ng. 

Noting that Singapore had some information of the Batam plot, the minister said: “We are obviously thankful to Indonesian authorities for disrupting the cell. We have general information that plots and cells against Singapore have grown. And that is why over the last few months, we have tried to convey to Singaporeans that we need to be vigilant.”

The suspects have links to people involved in the Katibah Nusantara, a known fighting unit under the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis), and Singapore must assume there are more such cells plotting against Singapore and the region, he added.

Al-Qaeda was structured in a way that meant it they could be weakened by disrupting the cells, but Isis uses social media as a call to arms, which increases the chances of lone wolf attacks, observed Dr Ng.

Despite the Government’s efforts, no country will be able to “protect everyone, everywhere and all the time”. But Singaporeans must not respond with fear, stressed Dr Ng.

“Will we crumble? Will we start pointing fingers at one another? Will we fear to go to work...to school? To go shopping? Or will we respond with resilience and say let’s get on with it?” he said. 

He added: “We must not allow this threat to paralyse our daily activities, or economy in Singapore...to sow discord or distrust among Singaporeans...to sever the strong communal ties, this religious harmony that we’ve taken decades to build.”