Singapore has stepped up its security measures in response to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran, according to Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam.
Speaking at a community event in Chong Pang on Saturday, June 28, he said that while a ceasefire is currently in place, the situation remains uncertain and the authorities are preparing for different possible scenarios.
Following recent Israeli strikes on Iran and the subsequent counterattacks, Singapore has raised its security posture. The police and other security agencies have increased patrols and checks across the country to ensure public safety.
The government is concerned that extremist groups could use the regional tensions as an excuse to carry out attacks, either on Western targets such as Israeli or American interests, or on Muslim communities and symbols, depending on the ideology of the attackers.
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Minister Shanmugam told Lianhe Zaobao that Singapore’s global profile could make it a target for international groups aiming to draw attention. As such, both right-wing and extremist religious groups are considered potential threats. Authorities are planning based on a variety of risk scenarios, acknowledging that even a single successful attack could have major consequences.
The minister also highlighted the importance of public awareness and participation in national security efforts. He pointed out that security is a shared responsibility and called for greater vigilance from the public.
Programmes like SGSecure have been promoted to educate citizens, but authorities believe there is still room for improvement in public alertness.
To test public awareness, agencies have carried out exercises involving unattended items in public places, but the response has shown that many people still fail to report suspicious objects. While no significant threats or suspicious activities have been detected in Singapore so far, officials remain cautious, as any successful attempt could have serious repercussions.
