Australia, Singapore to Boost Intelligence Sharing on ’Jihadis’

Local Editor

Australia and Singapore vowed on Friday to enhance intelligence sharing in the face of growing fears about the threat posed by "jihadist" citizens returning home after fighting in Syria and Iraq.

Singapore Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said at a joint press conference with Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop that, "In this context of counter-terrorism and counter radicalization... we felt that we could exchange more information because these threats if they materialize will affect all citizens of all races and all religions."

Ministers from both countries warned of the rising risk posed by the returning fighters who are radicalized and have developed sophisticated skills to carry out terror attacks.

Moreover, Australia's assistant Defence Minister Stuart Robert said the enhanced information sharing with Singapore will cover "the areas of terrorism, extremism, foreign fighters and the growth of homegrown extremism."

As many as 150 Australians are said to be fighting alongside the militant group overseas, including at least one Sydney man and his young son who have posed for photos with a severed head.

In July, Singapore said it is aware of two Singaporeans currently fighting in Syria along with their families.
In October 2012, authorities detained a man who attempted to travel to Syria to join the "jihadists."

Meanwhile, the deputy chief of the Malaysian police counter-terrorism division, Ayob Khan Mydin, said on Tuesday that the 19 so-called "Islamic State" [IS]-inspired Malaysian suspects who were recently detained had visions of establishing a hardline so-called "Islamic caliphate" spanning Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and Singapore.

Furthermore, in Indonesia, authorities estimate that 60 of its citizens have joined the fighting in Syria and Iraq.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team