Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim suggested the community make better use of what he called the three focal points: the office of the Mufti, registered religious teachers, and the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis). -- PHOTO:
SOME want the accreditation of Muslim religious teachers enforced. Others have called for a 'white list' of foreign institutions where Singaporean Muslims can study.
But Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Yaacob Ibrahim suggested the community make better use of what he called the three focal points: the office of the Mufti, registered religious teachers, and the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis).
Muslims can turn to them for religious advice or to report those who stray from the path, said Dr Yaacob, making his first comments on an Internal Security Department (ISD) swoop on Muslim radicals reported last Tuesday.
He said: 'This is a sound system. We can always improve on it, but if the public doesn't make use of it, there's nothing much we can do.'
Full-time national serviceman Muhammad Fadil Abdul Hamid, 20, who was detained for two years, contacted radical Muslim cleric Anwar Al-Awlaki over the Internet and expressed a desire to join militant jihad overseas. Another two, Muhammad Anwar Jailani, 44, a self-taught religious teacher, and Muhammad Thahir Shaik Dawood, 27, were placed on Restriction Orders for two years.
Dr Yaacob, who was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a charity event at Joo Chiat's Khalid Mosque, said: 'It's important not to overreact but we must react - in a decisive, rational, calm manner. We have to make sure this does not happen again. This was one case too many.'
