The Editor
Far Eastern Economic Review

Dear Sir

In "Common Ground" [FEER Jan 24], Trish Saywell acknowledged that "No one suggests a link between what appear to be anti-American plots and friction among local ethnic groups". But she went on to say that "some Malays believe the government could be more flexible on some issues the local community deems important". She quoted Zulfikar Mohamad Shariff, "chief executive of the Singaporean Muslim-rights group Fateha", attacking Singapore's support of the American-led campaign in Afghanistan, and implying that this had been the motivation for the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) terrorist plot.

The JI group was not motivated by Singapore's support for the war against terrorism. The plot had started much earlier. Its leader, Ibrahim Maidin, first went to Afghanistan for military training in 1993. In 1999, JI member Mohd Khalim bin Jaffar briefed Al-Qaeda leaders in Afghanistan on a plan to attack a shuttle bus service carrying US servicemen to a Mass Rapid Transit station. Another JI member, Faiz Abu Bakar Bafana, subsequently conveyed the videotape of a detailed reconnaissance of the station and its surroundings to Abu Hafs @ Mohd Atef, Osama bin Laden's lieutenant. This videotape, together with debriefing notes in Arabic, was found in the ruins of Abu Hafs' house in Afghanistan after September 11.

Zulfikar's Fateha group overtly supports Osama bin Laden and Al Qaeda. An article on Fateha's website, titled "What is our position in the acts of terrorism and announcement of Jihad?" states that "There is no proof to show that the [WTC] attack was done by Muslims", that "the whole investigation is suspect", that "the US has a bone to grind with Osama bin Laden", and that "from reported accounts of his life and character, Osama bin Laden is a practising Muslim and he requires the same of his followers and family members. His family follow Islam as best they could."

After Zulfikar blamed the Singapore Government's policies for the JI group's actions, Muslim community leaders repudiated his views and reiterated their condemnation of the JI group's activities as gravely
harmful to the interests of the Muslim community in Singapore. For FEER to cite Zulfikar as if he represented the views of the community is to mislead your readers.

Yours sincerely
Mrs Ong-Chew Peck Wan
Press Secretary to
Minister for Home Affairs

Source: Ministry of Home Affairs, Singapore