Bomb attack could spark unrest in Singapore: Goh

Bomb attack could spark unrest in Singapore: Goh

Agence France-Presse, Singapore

A bomb attack on ethnically diverse Singapore might spark racial unrest, Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong warned on Wednesday as he called for stronger bonds among the city-state's Chinese, Muslim and Indian communities.

Speaking at the opening of a mosque, Goh urged Singapore's Malay Muslim community to guard against the creeping of Islamic militancy into their ranks.

Singapore authorities have detained 31 men suspected to belong to the regional terror group Jamaah Islamiyah (JI) for an alleged plot to blow up foreign missions and water pipelines here.

The group, linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda terror network, has been blamed for the Oct. 12 bombings in the Indonesia resort island of Bali in which more than 190 people were killed.

Singaporeans should not take for granted their racial harmony -- a bedrock of the country's economic success -- and must strive to continually strengthen ethnic bonds, Goh said.

"If al-Qaeda or JI ever succeeds in blowing up even one target in Singapore, this might spark racial tensions, and perhaps even unrest," he added.

"We must therefore continually strengthen the foundations of our racial and religious harmony. We must build up understanding, confidence and trust between the different communities now when things are quiet and peaceful.

"Then if a bomb blast does occur in Singapore, there is less likelihood of it causing misunderstanding and tension between the communities," he said.

The majority of Singapore's 3.2 million population is Chinese, with a substantial Malay Muslim and Indian component.

Goh said the local Muslim community "must be on guard against those who preach extremism and hatred. You must prevent your young from falling prey to deviant teachings."