Rise in radicalism: Singapore minister warns of growing threat

Authorities detain teen over far-right extremism; housewife and cleaner also dealt with under security laws as cases increase

SINGAPORE (MNTV) — Singapore has seen a rising number of radicalised individuals, and citizens must be mentally prepared for a potential attack, warned Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam.

Speaking at the Thaipusam 2025 festival, he pointed to recent cases involving a teenager, a housewife, and a cleaner who were dealt with under the Internal Security Act (ISA), describing it as a “worrying trend.”

“This is the third young man we have taken action against for far-right extremist ideology,” Shanmugam said at Sri Thendayuthapani Temple.

The 18-year-old, detained in December 2024, idolised Australian white supremacist Brenton Tarrant, who killed 51 people in Christchurch in 2019.

He reportedly role-played as a terrorist in an online game and intended to incite a race war between Chinese and Malay communities in Singapore.

Authorities said the teen had obtained tattoos and T-shirts featuring neo-Nazi and white supremacist symbols.

Meanwhile, a Singaporean housewife who ran social media groups was placed under a restriction order.

A Malaysian cleaner working in Singapore was arrested in November 2024 and subsequently deported for links to terrorist groups.

Shanmugam emphasised that while Singapore’s Internal Security Department (ISD) has been proactive, the increasing number of cases highlights that the country is not immune to extremism.

The minister also underscored the importance of community resilience, noting that Singapore’s ability to respond cohesively in the event of an incident would be crucial.

“It’s a troubled world out there, and these influences will inevitably reach Singapore in some way,” he cautioned.