DPM Tan says S'poreans have much to learn from London blasts
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SINGAPORE : Deputy Prime Minister Tony Tan warned Singapore could very well be the next target for terrorists.
He said the people of London had beaten the terrorists by getting back to their normal lives quickly.
So too, must Singapore if it ever comes under attack, he added. The stark message is that Singaporeans have to live with terror, and take security measures as a necessary fact of life.
Dr Tan, who is also Coordinating Minister for Security and Defence, said this in a ministerial statement in Parliament in response to the recent London explosions.
Singapore's public transport system comprises a comprehensive bus and train network - both underground and above ground.
And security agencies have been progressively increasing its security, to prevent an attack, and to deal with the consequences of one.
Immediately after the July 7h London bomb blasts, police patrols at Singapore's MRT stations were stepped up and train operators increased checks done on commuters.
Singapore's security agencies are now planning to deploy explosive detection dog teams at MRT stations to carry out surprise checks.
And there are lessons for Singapore from the latest London incidents.
Dr Tan said: "Even a city as hardened and prepared as London became victim to terrorist attacks.The next target could well be Singapore. One of the lessons we can learn from Britain is practice does work.
"In Britain they have a Civil Contingency Secretariat, which practices these scenarios again and again. When it happened, all their systems went into place. There is no panic, people were evacuated, rescued, life went back to normal within a day and that is what we have to do in Singapore."
But the fight against terrorism is not just the government's responsibility.
Dr Tan mentioned a Channel NewsAsia news item which showed that Singaporeans were just not vigilant enough.
He said he watched the television programme where an unattended bag was deliberately left at Raffles Place and it was spotted by two American women.
Dr Tan said the two women had been used to such an attack that they decided to raise the alarm.
He reminded Singaporeans that they are "the eyes and ears, and the extended reach of the security agencies".
Dr Tan said it was just as important that the country's Muslims are well integrated into the community to prevent any backlash if there is a terror attack.
He said any backlash against the Muslim community could split the country and lay to waste the decades of hard work we have put in into nurturing racial and religious harmony, and in building up social resilience. - CNA/de
I have learnt not to be in blue chamber of a MRT train.
What have your learnt? -
I have learnt that it is a mortal sin to meddle in Middle Eastern affairs.
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Terrorist just need to carry 1 school bag size of explosives and your doomed.
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if terrorists were to bomb our train stations..walah the whole singapore jam liao. prevention is better den cure..lets hope nothing happens.
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On ALERT...
why is there a big black unattended bag in my room now... police police... call 999... hang up fast...
silly me... that is my bag and i am in my room now...
"we" just talk nia, even when it an ex. ALL was pre plan. ALL extra/actors know what to do.
i will say when real things happened... ALL will karang kaboh.
ALL as in aunty, ah soh, ah ma will know where to go meh? ALL gin na will help meh?
the need to was not 'PRACTICE' enough. did we ever? maybe it just me never or maybe too 'costly' to do it for 'them' now. normal SG'rean' LIFE is sure cheaper. -
So far, no bombs have exploded in Singapore yet since the Confrontasi. (Must thank the Home Team)
The question is the people are out of touch in regards to strange objects and reporting to authorities. The Penal Code states that there are big penalties in misreporting cases to authorities. Nothing can be done about the people's atitude about it. In fact, in the recently issued emergency handbook by the CD, nothing is stated about the types of bombs that can be used by terrorists. This will cause a do-nothing-till- you-are -sure atitude with the people, by which time, it'll be too late. 
That's my 2cents about this. -
Yaya quite true,afraid of making reports and in the end getting charged for giving misleading information. And Singaporeans are usually the "bo hew" attitude,doesnt pay attention to any special stuffs left alongside the road,etc..thinking its rubbish or whatever. Not much of in-dept education is given to the public regarding the types of bombs and how to identify them,maybe except for guys who went through NS and have done guard duties before. Singaporean really need to be very alert!Originally posted by gammadion:So far, no bombs have exploded in Singapore yet since the Confrontasi. (Must thank the Home Team) The question is the people are out of touch in regards to strange objects and reporting to authorities. The Penal Code states that there are big penalties in misreporting cases to authorities. Nothing can be done about the people's atitude about it. In fact, in the recently issued emergency handbook by the CD, nothing is stated about the types of bombs that can be used by terrorists. This will cause a do-nothing-till- you-are -sure atitude with the people, by which time, it'll be too late.
That's my 2cents about this. -
His comments following the little or no reaction from 'packages' planted in hot spots around singapore irked me.
This testing tactic may backfire the same way the TV show 'gotcha' did. In the end, NO ONE will bother with a solitary item left unattended for fear it was just a scam.
There are plenty of ways to practice response time and alertness such as MRT evacuations and fire drills but tricking the public in this manner is thoughtless and irresponsible. -
these politicians should keep their mouth shut and stop antagonising the terrorists. they are putting us at risk.
when terrorism strikes only the commoners get hit. the rich, famous and powerful dont take public transport. they face the least risk.
knn. -
Tell terrorists to bomb their homes/offices.Originally posted by dragg:these politicians should keep their mouth shut and stop antagonising the terrorists. they are putting us at risk.
when terrorism strikes only the commoners get hit. the rich, famous and powerful dont take public transport. they face the least risk.
knn. -
i am sure that is what they actually wanted. but security is too tight.Originally posted by Boyish84:Tell terrorists to bomb their homes/offices. -
wat say was very ture...Originally posted by dragg:these politicians should keep their mouth shut and stop antagonising the terrorists. they are putting us at risk.
when terrorism strikes only the commoners get hit. the rich, famous and powerful dont take public transport. they face the least risk.
knn.
but to them, these politicians, in SG, dun think so. GOV know we are small in land area and it is easy to control or get things done, best still can catch the culprit, master mind within hours.
it bad, imo, i think they will rather a bomb go off somewhere in SG and they can show what 'we' can do for a show off.
show support in anti terror... YES. but please once is enough, tone down, dun get 'them' agitated.
any lose nut want to bomb SG... he just need to go Jurong Island. it not hard at all. but the 'resident' there have evacuation plan and drill were carried out now and than... but not us, SG'rean'.
Any town centre did any drill so far? NO. maybe it too 'costly' life is cheap, sure it not worth more than a 'peanut'
it more practical to have more drills in CITY HALL MRT station, town centre, shopping center etc, places where lots of ppl are than to talk the talk.
sad to say, GOV do things when it get out of hand. what just happen lately is one good example. -
i share ur sentimentsOriginally posted by dragg:these politicians should keep their mouth shut and stop antagonising the terrorists. they are putting us at risk.
when terrorism strikes only the commoners get hit. the rich, famous and powerful dont take public transport. they face the least risk.
knn. -
if terrorism really strikes, no amount of drills or contingency plans is ever enough. politicians are politicians after all. they just dont care about the people. always 'look at the bigger picture!'Originally posted by Joshua1975:wat say was very ture...
but to them, these politicians, in SG, dun think so. GOV know we are small in land area and it is easy to control or get things done, best still can catch the culprit, master mind within hours.
it bad, imo, i think they will rather a bomb go off somewhere in SG and they can show what 'we' can do for a show off.
show support in anti terror... YES. but please once is enough, tone down, dun get 'them' agitated.
any lose nut want to bomb SG... he just need to go Jurong Island. it not hard at all. but the 'resident' there have evacuation plan and drill were carried out now and than... but not us, SG'rean'.
Any town centre did any drill so far? NO. maybe it too 'costly' life is cheap, sure it not worth more than a 'peanut'
it more practical to have more drills in CITY HALL MRT station, town centre, shopping center etc, places where lots of ppl are than to talk the talk.
sad to say, GOV do things when it get out of hand. what just happen lately is one good example. -
is it? before 911. what drill did the US have over their sky? NONE.Originally posted by dragg:if terrorism really strikes, no amount of drills or contingency plans is ever enough. politicians are politicians after all. they just dont care about the people. always 'look at the bigger picture!'
NOW? any birds fly near they know and any nearer will be ask to turn back and if still not taking advice, it going down.
No amount of drills or contingency plans is ever enough.... heehee... wahahahaaaaa... being dragging around for too long ya... -
I think it's pretty late now to talk about preparing for a terrorist strike.
Those London terrorists were actually locals who lived in poverty and their frustration at the government ignoring their livelihood drove them to retaliate.
We have a similar situation here. It'll explode in our faces when we keep seeing government leaders and servants enjoying fat healthy pays while the poor, jobless and lower-income group of people continue to struggle with rising costs.
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out of point... about drills or contingency plans, not on terror now... what about recent tsunami? same no drills or contingency plans, oni after it happened.
never enough is better than not a single one. -
As I posted before, some disgruntled fellow could blow himself up in the subway out of frustration 2 days before the election. The JI gets fingered by the government, then when investigations prove them wrong, confidence in them erodes overnight. As a result, a new regime gets voted in at the polls. This is one lesson we can learn from the Spaniards.Originally posted by macjoe:I think it's pretty late now to talk about preparing for a terrorist strike.
Those London terrorists were actually locals who lived in poverty and their frustration at the government ignoring their livelihood drove them to retaliate.
We have a similar situation here. It'll explode in our faces when we keep seeing government leaders and servants enjoying fat healthy pays while the poor, jobless and lower-income group of people continue to struggle with rising costs. -
just pray that you arent unlucky enough to be there when it happens.
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The thing is, if I spot a package, I wouldn't call the coppers.
Why? Simple, they will come and if it's not, they'd give you black face. -
Then it's their fault if innocent people get blown to bits.Originally posted by Uncle_MooMoo:The thing is, if I spot a package, I wouldn't call the coppers.
Why? Simple, they will come and if it's not, they'd give you black face. -
They give you black face nevermind, but your name will be on the newspaper!Originally posted by Uncle_MooMoo:The thing is, if I spot a package, I wouldn't call the coppers.
Why? Simple, they will come and if it's not, they'd give you black face.
Frontpage:
Uncle_MooMoo made a false alarm call. Caused the whole East to west line to jam at peak hours in the morning. Businesses expected to lose $10 millions. Some of the major trading houses are planning to sue him. Durai is planing to sue too. He said that he missed a $100,000/month job interview and is planning to sue Moo for 10 peanuts. As of now, Uncle_MooMoo is believed to be on the run. Also, a report from the AlQaeda website says that it is planning to sponsor Uncle_MooMoo to get out of Singapore as it is very thankful for him to cause panic in Singapore without it lifting a single finger.
But our Uncle_MooMoo is a smart uncle. The above scenario won't happen because he won't call the cops. -
you think they care?Originally posted by SBS3641G:Then it's their fault if innocent people get blown to bits.
it is just statistics to politicians. -
Anyway... I think it needs to get a bombing bef ppl here learn is it?
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Singaporeans are generally selfish. I am too.Originally posted by sbst275:Anyway... I think it needs to get a bombing bef ppl here learn is it?
So unless the family member, friends or myself kana, then I care, else, no money no talk.
That is another reason why i want to migrate to Australia, at least they care for their citizens. I want to go there to pick up civil-mindedness and be a good citizen of the earth. In Singapore, it is always just money money and me me. Look at the drug traffiking lady who kana jailed in Indonesia. If it is a Singaporean who kana jailed, who cares right?