31 January 2002 1501 hrs (GMT) 2301 hrs (SST) PM Goh challenges Malay Muslims to police themselves against deviant groups by Farah Abdul Rahim
Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong

During his dialogue with Singaporeans on Monday, Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong threw down a challenge to the Malay Muslim community.

He asked if they could police themselves, and weed out any radical groups before they took root.

PM Goh Chok Tong floated the idea during the question-and-answer session of the dialogue.

"Is it possible for the Malay-Muslim community to set up some kind of self-policing screening efforts to identify the deviant teachings or deviant groups within the Muslim community?

"If you can have this self-policing to identify them and isolate them, so that radical groups don't surface, I think that will be very helpful to all of us," PM Goh said.

But is the community ready for such a responsibility? And how will it be done?

"I rather prefer a process whereby we develop some kind of instincts within the community - when we see something not right, we alert the authority. MUIS should be the authority," said Associate Professor Yaacob Ibrahim, Minister of State for Community Development & Sports.

"Perhaps what we can do is to tighten the process, make it more accessible across - through the Internet// and for us to be more pro-active," A/P Yaacob added.

The Mayor for NorthEast CDC, meanwhile, suggested that other groups also be roped in.

Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed said: "Muis can extend the network and use existing organisations whether it is Mendaki, AMP or other key organisations, perhaps introduce mechanisms where individuals can be encouraged to give information and feedback, and be part of that network, it would be more reassuring."

The mayor's position was shared by Singapore's Islamic Religious Council or MUIS.

Maarof Salleh, president of MUIS, said: "I believe this is our responsibility, and will make sure we'll be able to discharge this responsibility. But again Muis cannot work alone. It has to maintain good relations and network with Muslim organisations, mosques."

MUIS is also updating its register of religious teachers, but will not make it compulsory.

Many leaders to whom Channel NewsAsia spoke agreed that such a self-policing mechanism is a step in the right direction that will help weed extremists from within the Malay-Muslim community.

But what needs further discussion is how to actually go about doing it, something that is likely to be raised at the Prime Minister's dialogue with young Muslims on Saturday.