26 January 2002 1440 hrs (GMT) 2240 hrs (SST) Do not view each other with suspicion: DPM Lee by Fiona Tan
DPM Lee Hsien Loong

Deputy Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has urged Singaporeans not to view each other with suspicion in the light of the recent ISD arrests.

Brigadier-General Lee said Singaporeans of different races had so far responded rationally to the events and more will be done in coming months to foster inter-racial understanding and harmony.

General Lee was speaking at a Selective En bloc Redevelopment Scheme (SERS) completion ceremony in Ang Mo Kio on Saturday.

He also urged Singaporeans to be vigilant as more extremist groups could surface in the coming months in the region, following the arrests in Singapore and neighbouring countries of groups linked to Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.

Responding to queries from the media about the furore around fringe group Fateha, General Lee said the government was not concerned about Mr Zulfikar because he clearly does not represent the Malay Muslim community here.

He added there is a recognition of what is in the community's interest and what is unwise and crazy talk.

General Lee said: "It is not a debate between us and Mr Zulfikar, he has taken very extreme position. We have to tackle them because if we do not address these issues and just leave it at some corner of the Internet, it will just grow and fester.

"And maybe there will be whisperings and the question is maybe the government can't answer arguments, and maybe the community supports the views and that will be very corrosive. So we have to come out and hit head-on and resolve the matter."