Ex PAP MP: Preventing radicalisation of youth must be done years before it happens
The recent detention of three young people has renewed questions about youth radicalisation. Amrin Amin says prevention needs to start long before extremist ideas take root. This article ( Ex PAP MP: Preventing radicalisation of youth must be done years before it happens ) first appeared on The Independent Singapore News .
Former People's Action Party Member of Parliament Amrin Amin addressed the issue of youth radicalisation in Singapore, emphasising that nothing can justify extremism or violence. He questioned whether more should be done in the country to prevent such radicalisation. Amrin, who served as the MP for Sembawang GRC from 2015 to 2020 and previously held positions as Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Home Affairs and Health, shared a link to an Aug 11 Straits Times report on the subject.
Experts quoted in the report stated that youth radicalisation can occur within a matter of weeks. This matter is of growing concern for Singapore. In April to June, three young people aged 14, 15, and 19 were detained for being radicalised by far-right extremist ideologies, Hamas, and Islamic State (ISIS). The 14-year-old planned a stabbing attack at his school but was arrested a month before it could happen.
Meanwhile, the 19-year-old intended to carry out knife attacks against LGBTQ classmates and Singapore Armed Forces personnel at Sembawang Air Base.
In a social media post on Aug 11, Amrin acknowledged the idealism and passion of young people, who often express dismay at the uneven application of principles, especially in sensitive matters like Gaza and Iran. He stressed that the crucial aspect is for adults around youth to be able to handle difficult conversations, challenge ideas without dismissing the person, and allow for disagreement without treating dissent as dangerous.
Amrin, a lawyer and a parent, added that young people must learn to hear criticism, disagree, and accept complexity "without reaching too quickly for certainty."
The former MP highlighted the danger posed by extremist communities, which exploit youth anger, isolation, and grievances, transforming them into appealing forms of belonging, certainty, and blaming others. He noted that understanding this appeal does not excuse extremism but is essential for prevention. Amrin added that prevention begins years before radicalisation occurs, potentially within families, schools, and communities where disagreement is accepted without estrangement. He concluded that "Radicalisation may be fast. Resilience is built slowly."
Written by urgent.news from The Independent Singapore's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
