Tampines community leaders react to terror plot with heightened preparedness in recent crisis exercise
The recent crisis response exercise in Tampines, held on October 19, was taken more seriously by participants after news broke of a planned terror attack in the area. Minister for Social and Family Development, Masagos Zulkifli, noted that the timing of the exercise, which occurred just a day after the revelation about a 17-year-old plotting to stab and kill non-Muslims in Tampines, made the community more motivated to take the exercise seriously.
The exercise, conducted by the Tampines Community Response Roundtable, included representatives from schools, businesses, grassroots organizations, and religious bodies. The roundtable focuses on raising awareness about potential terror threats and enhancing crisis preparedness, as well as fostering social cohesion in the community.
During the exercise, participants discussed various scenarios, including terrorist attacks and the aftermath, such as dealing with hate messages defacing places of worship. The session was attended by around 100 individuals, including social service agencies, merchants, and religious leaders like Ustaz Shafaat Syonan from Darul Ghufran Mosque, who emphasized the importance of calming the public and working together in the event of an attack.
Masagos expressed confidence in the preparedness of the Tampines community, noting that religious leaders play a crucial role in condemning violence and ensuring unity. He further highlighted the importance of strong community bonds to help defuse tensions in the aftermath of a terror-related incident. Minister of State for Home Affairs, Sun Xueling, emphasized that building strong relationships within the community in peacetime is key to managing tensions and restoring normalcy following violent events.
The exercise also underscored the vital role of grassroots efforts in managing the aftermath of a crisis, with Mr. Benedict Koh, chair of the Tampines East Community Emergency and Engagement Committee, stating that while police are on the front line, community members are instrumental in calming the situation and preventing the spread of false information.
