MFA Press Statement: Visit by Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman to the State of Kuwait, 12 to 14 Feb 2018

Senior Minister of State (SMS), Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman visited the State of Kuwait from 12 to 14 February 2018. He attended the Ministerial Meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS on 13 February and the Ministerial Conference of the Kuwait International Conference for the Reconstruction of Iraq on 14 February. At the Coalition Ministerial Meeting, he reaffirmed Singapore’s contributions to the Coalition’s efforts to eradicate the scourge of terrorism and stressed the need for a holistic response to it. The full text of his remarks is appended. 

  During his visit, SMS Maliki called on Kuwait’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah. They reaffirmed the warm ties between Singapore and Kuwait and discussed a range of issues, including defence cooperation.  SMS Maliki also called on and was hosted to dinner by Kuwait’s President of the National Security Bureau Sheikh Thamer Ali Sabah Al Saleh Al Sabah. They welcomed enhanced security cooperation and discussed regional developments. 

On 12 February, SMS Maliki hosted a dinner for Singaporean students studying on scholarship programmes granted by the Kuwaiti government. 

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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

SINGAPORE 

14 FEBRUARY 2018

Remarks by Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman at the Ministerial Meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS 

Your Excellencies, 

1. ISIS remains a clear and present danger in Southeast Asia.  With the defeat of ISIS in Iraq and Syria, foreign fighters could now be heading back to our region.  Pro-ISIS media is also now less geared towards encouraging hijrah (migration) to Iraq and Syria, and more towards instigating and carrying out terrorist attacks wherever they are. With ISIS’s stated intention to establish a wilayat (province) in Southeast Asia, the terrorist threat to Singapore and the region is at its highest level in recent years.  Most recently, pro-ISIS insurgents laid a siege of Marawi City in the Philippines.  

2. Singapore has lent early and consistent support to the Defeat-ISIS Coalition.  We were the first Southeast Asian country to join the Coalition and remain the only Asian country to have contributed both military assets and personnel, including here in Kuwait at the Combined Joint Task Force Headquarters.  As part of our continued commitment towards the Coalition’s efforts, Singapore has also extended our existing deployment, including a medical team, KC-135R tanker aircraft, and Imagery Analysis Team to 2018.

3. The threat from ISIS needs a holistic response that goes beyond purely military action in Iraq and Syria.  

4. Firstly, our law enforcement agencies must pool resources and deepen intelligence-sharing to cut ISIS’ access to material support and financing and stem the movement of terrorist fighters.  

5. Singapore has made counter-terrorism a priority for our ASEAN Chairmanship this year.  We have proposed a regional counter-terrorism framework of “Resilience, Response, Recovery” to anchor all ASEAN counter-terrorism initiatives.  This RRR framework seeks to: (a) build regional resilience to prevent terrorist attacks; (b) coordinate regional responses to address ongoing threats; and (c) effectively recover in the aftermath of terrorist attacks.

6. Secondly, we must counter ISIS’s violent ideology.  In Singapore, we provide religious counselling to our terrorism-related detainees to counter the radical ideas that they have been imbibed with and to provide proper teachings and interpretation of the religion. 

7. Thirdly, the reintegration of rehabilitated extremists back into society is also crucial.  

8. Fourthly, we must not let the actions of a few in the name of religion create terror or divide our societies.  Singapore launched “SG Secure”, a national movement to sensitise, train, and mobilise all Singaporeans in the fight against terror.  

9. In conclusion, global terrorism is a scourge that all nations must tackle together.  Singapore supports deeper counter-terrorism cooperation and stands ready to share our experiences with Coalition members.

10. Thank you.

Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman met Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al Hamad Al Sabah at the Ministerial Meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS, 13 February 2018. [Photo credit: MFA Singapore]

Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman called on President of the National Security Bureau of Kuwait Sheikh Thamer Ali Sabah Al Saleh Al Sabah, 12 February 2018. [Photo credit: MFA Singapore]

Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Defence and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr Mohamad Maliki Bin Osman called on First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence of Kuwait Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah, 12 February 2018. [Photo credit: MFA Singapore]