Stop Isis or face consequences, Singapore professor warns Asean
Authorities in Asean countries must take action against militant group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (Isis) or face severe repercussions, warns a Singapore political scientist.
Dr Bilveer Singh, who is a member of Singapore's Council on Security and Cooperation Asia-Pacific and sits on the republic's parliamentary committee on defence, said although the war is being fought in the Middle East, Isis is made up of Sunni Muslims from all over the world, including the Asean region.
"There are three possible scenarios in which Isis could affect this region,” Bilveer, from the National University of Singapore, told a forum on the rise of Isis and its implications on Southeast Asia, organised by the Strategic Information and Research Development Centre.
In the first scenario, Bilveer said Asean nationals who had fought alongside Isis would return without bringing their armed struggle home.
"This would be an ideal scenario as the Malaysians, Indonesians and Filipino fighters would return without bringing home their militant activities."
The second scenario would see them bringing their armed struggle and ideology back with them.
"In the worst case scenario, non-Asean fighters might join their Isis brethren in starting a holy war in Southeast Asia, which would have severe repercussions here," he said.
The third scenario, he said, would see local Isis chapters cropping up all over the region.
"Their main aim would be to establish a caliphate in Southeast Asia, similar to what Isis is doing in the Middle East," Bilveer said.
He said east Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak), the southern Philippines and Sulawesi were the golden triangle of terrorism in the region.
He said Isis has learn from the past and also from the classified information leaked by American whistleblower, Edward Snowden, and had even released a 1,600-page handbook on the basics of guerrilla warfare.
"They know exactly how the Western powers will aim to track their movements, via phone tapping or mass surveillance."
Bilveer described Isis as highly deviant, violent and inhuman and driven to fight and wage war for power.
He said there were ways to bring down the group, which was once linked to Al-Qaeda before they broke off ties.
"Muslim clerics and leaders should educate the masses that Isis does not represent an Islamic state nor does it represent Islam or the principles of the Prophet.
"Authorities can also be harsh if they want to and go one step further by de-registering their citizens who have fought with Isis forces," he added.
But Bilveer warned that Isis is different from other terrorist groups, and this made its difficult to be destroyed.
"Firstly, they are well-armed, have great numbers of fighters and are firmly established over a swathe of land. They also operate an oil industry.
"Very little is known about Isis in terms of its leadership structure and the key figures in the organisation. Their ideology has attracted many to take up arms."
Saying repression and oppression in the Middle East had fueled support for Isis, he warned that tactics to fight Al-Qaeda would not work with Isis.
He said during the reigns of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein and former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Isis did not stand a chance in both countries.
"The iron-fisted rule of these two dictators meant that the Sunni Muslims could not rebel for fear of being put down brutally," Bilveer said.
But the US-backed ouster of both dictators created a vacuum which Isis slipped into, Bilveer added.
Jasminder Singh, Bilveer's son and a research associate at US-based public relations firm Nexus Strategies, said many had been attracted to Isis because it was reasonably cheap.
"It costs between RM2,000 and RM4,000 to go to the Middle East, I have also heard of cases where Isis paid for the plane ticket.
"Those travelling to the Middle East to join Isis have used various excuses including charities, relief missions, the haj, umrah and even tourism as cover to enter the region."
He said studies have shown that foreigners who who joined the group were disgruntled with the current political, economic and social order affecting Muslims.
"They see a need to destroy the infidel Shiite who are tormenting the Sunni. This is ultimate battle in Al Shaam which will bring the Muslims to a new Golden Age,” he said, referring to present-day Syria, adding that Isis chapters have cropped up in villages in Indonesia.
Senior intelligence officials say there are more than 40 Malaysians currently fighting alongside Isis forces in the Middle East.
The Malaysian Insider had reported that three Malaysian women were also among them.-TMI
Dr Bilveer Singh, who is a member of Singapore's Council on Security and Cooperation Asia-Pacific and sits on the republic's parliamentary committee on defence, said although the war is being fought in the Middle East, Isis is made up of Sunni Muslims from all over the world, including the Asean region.
"There are three possible scenarios in which Isis could affect this region,” Bilveer, from the National University of Singapore, told a forum on the rise of Isis and its implications on Southeast Asia, organised by the Strategic Information and Research Development Centre.
In the first scenario, Bilveer said Asean nationals who had fought alongside Isis would return without bringing their armed struggle home.
"This would be an ideal scenario as the Malaysians, Indonesians and Filipino fighters would return without bringing home their militant activities."
The second scenario would see them bringing their armed struggle and ideology back with them.
"In the worst case scenario, non-Asean fighters might join their Isis brethren in starting a holy war in Southeast Asia, which would have severe repercussions here," he said.
The third scenario, he said, would see local Isis chapters cropping up all over the region.
"Their main aim would be to establish a caliphate in Southeast Asia, similar to what Isis is doing in the Middle East," Bilveer said.
He said east Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak), the southern Philippines and Sulawesi were the golden triangle of terrorism in the region.
He said Isis has learn from the past and also from the classified information leaked by American whistleblower, Edward Snowden, and had even released a 1,600-page handbook on the basics of guerrilla warfare.
"They know exactly how the Western powers will aim to track their movements, via phone tapping or mass surveillance."
Bilveer described Isis as highly deviant, violent and inhuman and driven to fight and wage war for power.
He said there were ways to bring down the group, which was once linked to Al-Qaeda before they broke off ties.
"Muslim clerics and leaders should educate the masses that Isis does not represent an Islamic state nor does it represent Islam or the principles of the Prophet.
"Authorities can also be harsh if they want to and go one step further by de-registering their citizens who have fought with Isis forces," he added.
But Bilveer warned that Isis is different from other terrorist groups, and this made its difficult to be destroyed.
"Firstly, they are well-armed, have great numbers of fighters and are firmly established over a swathe of land. They also operate an oil industry.
"Very little is known about Isis in terms of its leadership structure and the key figures in the organisation. Their ideology has attracted many to take up arms."
Saying repression and oppression in the Middle East had fueled support for Isis, he warned that tactics to fight Al-Qaeda would not work with Isis.
He said during the reigns of former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein and former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, Isis did not stand a chance in both countries.
"The iron-fisted rule of these two dictators meant that the Sunni Muslims could not rebel for fear of being put down brutally," Bilveer said.
But the US-backed ouster of both dictators created a vacuum which Isis slipped into, Bilveer added.
Jasminder Singh, Bilveer's son and a research associate at US-based public relations firm Nexus Strategies, said many had been attracted to Isis because it was reasonably cheap.
"It costs between RM2,000 and RM4,000 to go to the Middle East, I have also heard of cases where Isis paid for the plane ticket.
"Those travelling to the Middle East to join Isis have used various excuses including charities, relief missions, the haj, umrah and even tourism as cover to enter the region."
He said studies have shown that foreigners who who joined the group were disgruntled with the current political, economic and social order affecting Muslims.
"They see a need to destroy the infidel Shiite who are tormenting the Sunni. This is ultimate battle in Al Shaam which will bring the Muslims to a new Golden Age,” he said, referring to present-day Syria, adding that Isis chapters have cropped up in villages in Indonesia.
Senior intelligence officials say there are more than 40 Malaysians currently fighting alongside Isis forces in the Middle East.
The Malaysian Insider had reported that three Malaysian women were also among them.-TMI
