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."