WITHOUT effective collaboration among ASEAN partners, terrorism in Southeast Asia will continue to thrive this year as foreign fighters now in the Middle East return to home soil to continue their campaign.

The warning by two United Nations representatives came following observations of the rise of terrorism activity in the region last year, in countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand.

The duo – Jeremy Douglas, UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Southeast Asia representative, and Joseph Gyte, UNODC Counter-terrorism consultant for the region – noting in an article on Bangkok Post that Daesh, or the Islamic State (IS) terror network, has in recent months shown great interest in the region.

They cited the uptick in terrorism activity in ASEAN nations last year as an example, pointing out that in Indonesia, the arrests and deaths of terrorist suspects had more than doubled to 170, while Malaysia experienced a steady stream of travel attempts of foreign fighters to Syria or Iraq and saw its first terror attack in June.

Philippines, on the other hand, witnessed an increase in bombings and hostage-takings by IS-related groups like the Abu Sayyaf and in Thailand, attacks numbered to over 800 last year with over 300 deaths and 600 reports of injuries.

SEE ALSO: Philippines: Islamic State believed to be pushing for Southeast Asia expansion

“Unfortunately, this trend is not expected to subside this year. Rather, without effective collaboration between country members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), it is predicted that the level of terrorist violence will increase further,” they said.

Douglas and Gyte added that as IS continues to cede territorial control in the Middle East, its fighters would have to disperse and plant their roots elsewhere.

Abu Sayyaf militants have pledged their support for IS. Image via YouTube.

When this happens, the more than 1,000 foreign fighters from Southeast Asia now in the Middle East are expected return from the war still armed with the dream of declaring a caliphate, this time in their home countries.

Their modus operandi: Use ongoing conflicts like the ongoing violence in Burma’s Rakhine state, and capitalise on rising racial and religious intolerance and situations of political instability in countries like Indonesia or Malaysia, in order to expand their network of recruits and thus gain power and influence.

SEE ALSO: Thai police find Islamic State links in restive south

IS, Douglas and Gyte claimed in one example, has frequently utilised the Rohingya crisis as justification for their cause and recruitment.

“Now, the recent sectarian violence in Rakhine state has led to increasing attempted attacks on Myanmar interests and protests in Muslim majority countries; Malaysia and Indonesia,” they noted.

Their fears are not unfounded.

Just last month, the head of the Malaysian police’s counter-terrorism division warned that Burma was at risk of attacks by foreign supporters of IS recruited via Southeast Asian networks claiming to be in support of the Rohingya cause.

The official, Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, said this after local authorities detained a suspected IS follower who was planning to head to Burma to carry out attacks. The suspect was said to be Indonesian, according to a Reuters report, and Ayob Khan warned that he was not likely to be the only one.

The Rohingya Muslims are a persecuted minority in Burma. Rights groups around the world have accused Burmese forces in the predominantly-Buddhist country of carrying out summary executions and rape of the Rohingya via army operations launched as a response to the Oct 9, 2016, attack on police posts that saw nine officers killed.

The Burmese government under Aung San Suu Kyi has denied this but her leadership’s lack of action has triggered protests in neighbouring  Indonesia and in Malaysia.

(File) Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, center, holds hands with other leaders during a protest against the persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Burma, at a stadium in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, Dec 4, 2016. Pic: AP.

SEE ALSO: Malaysia warns Burma of looming threats from IS militants

Apart from running conflicts like the Rohingya crisis, Southeast Asia’s exceptionally porous borders also provide easy entry to, and movement within, the region for IS fighters, Douglas and Gyte said.

It has also made it easy for extremists to channel funds into the region, according to a regional risk assessment jointly prepared by Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Philippines and Australia that was released last August.

The study, as quoted by Bloomberg, said: “Given only small sums are required to stage a deadly attack, even modest amounts of funding from foreign terrorist groups pose a significant risk to the region’s security. The cross-border movement of cash is the highest-risk method of moving terrorism funds across the region.”

As such, Douglas and Gyte said efforts must be made to mitigate these risks such as improving passport screening processes, dismantling smuggling networks and preventing corruption at border checkpoints.

They said the UNODC has also started assisting border officials by helping them to recognise and prevent the movements of foreign terrorist fighters.

Apart from these, the UN representatives said it is also crucial that ASEAN member nations update their terrorism-related legislation in line with UN Security Council Resolutions, Universal Legal Instruments Against Terrorism, and International Human Rights Law. Malaysia, they said, is the only ASEAN nation that has criminalised travelling for the purpose of conducting or facilitating terrorist activities.

SEE ALSO: How Malaysian, Indonesian anti-terror cops take the fight to Islamic militants, foil plots

Counter-terrorism investigators in many other ASEAN nations, however, are typically hindered by inadequate legislation.

“Without this legal backing, ASEAN remains vulnerable to the movements of terrorists. While ASEAN countries have improved on their collaboration and intelligence sharing, it still occurs in an ad hoc and inconsistent fashion,” they said.

“More regular and efficient information sharing through formal and informal channels, within and between countries of the region, needs to be seriously enhanced.”

Finally, Douglas and Gyte also noted that there is no ASEAN plan in place that directly addresses the prevention of violent extremism.

They said in much of the region, the root causes of the surge in terrorism and the reasons for the spread of IS propaganda are allowed to fester, which ultimately means local communities are left vulnerable to radicalisation.

“It is important that Asean develops a regional prevention of violent extremism plan which is subsequently tailored for each country. This is by no means an exhaustive list of recommendations.

“However, if all Asean nations implement a common approach, including what we are recommending, risks posed by terrorists in the region would be significantly reduced,” they said.

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RWANDA: Singaporean Chong Fook Yen watched in horror as the student took a piece of wood, clamped it tight and tried his hardest to saw it – while holding the saw in the opposite direction.

That was when Mr Chong knew his task to transform Rwanda would be an uphill battle.

Some 10 years ago, he was sent to help transform the African country’s vocational and educational system using Singapore’s own successful model. He recounted: “The best way to go about doing it is to go to the school and see what is being done. To my horror, I saw this in the workshop.”

Rwanda has since made great strides in its growth, with some help from Singaporeans like Mr Chong whose works have impacted many communities abroad. Their stories are told in the Channel NewsAsia documentary Finding Singapore, with episode 2 on Sunday (Feb 12) at 8pm (SG/HK).

Today, some have nicknamed Rwanda the ‘Singapore of Africa’ with its similarly clean streets, corruption-intolerant reputation, and an impressive economic growth that consistently hits 8 per cent annually.

WATCH: A quick peek at Singaporeans in Rwanda (1:37)

MOVING ON FROM GENOCIDE

But its transformation to one of Africa’s fastest growing economies has meant overcoming a turbulent history – in 1994, a social revolution resulted in around 800,000 Rwandans killed over some 100 days.

Mr Chong said: “Rwanda just walked out from the genocide. If you look at Singapore when we first started our nation building, we sort of just stepped out from the Second World War and we were also facing racial riots back then, although not on the scale of what was experienced in Rwanda.”

The Genocide memorial in Nyamata to the thousands slaughtered in 1994. (Photo: AFP)

In 2008, Singapore and Rwanda signed a MOU to provide a framework for public sector collaboration.

When Mr Chong – a vocational and technical education expert who helps create education models for cities – realised the huge skill gap, he decided to work out a curriculum to match Rwanda’s industry needs.

“If we don’t invest in education, just one generation would destroy the country,” he said. “Because that generation would grow up without the right education, without the right character-building, and the repercussions would trickle down to the next generation and the next.”

LIKE SINGAPORE’S ITE

In 2008, the Rwanda Workforce Development Authority (WDA) was formed to empower citizens with practical skills required to build the country’s economy. It follows closely the Singapore Workforce Development Agency model, but focuses more on pre-employment training, similar to the Institute of Technical Education system, Mr Chong said.

As the Rwanda WDA’s acting director-general back then, he and his team knew they had to revamp the vocational system and upgrade the skills of the instructors. Students were also sent to Singapore to hone their skills in areas like hospitality and aviation.

Their efforts have paid off. Today, there are 392 vocational training schools across Rwanda, with a wide range of courses for students to choose from.

Education aside, the country has also looked at Singapore’s housing models for inspiration.

Urban planning firm Surbana Jurong was engaged to conceptualise the masterplan for Nyarugenge, a district in Kigali city in 2009.

The company was again appointed in 2012 to create a master plan for Kigali city, which at 730 sq-km, is slightly bigger than Singapore.

RESILIENCE IS KEY

Singaporean Daniel Selvaratnam, having worked at the Economic Development Board for 30 years, is also contributing to Rwanda’s progress through his job at the Rwanda Development Board.

He said: “It’s a very hard thing to do, for any country to try and emulate Singapore because the conditions prevailing in other countries are actually quite different.

“But this country is very determined. When they set their mind on something, they go all out. This is the only country in East Africa where you have paved roads, from one border to another.”

WATCH: She became a chicken farmer (9:23). Read more here about her and other Singaporeans in Rwanda. 

Rwanda president Paul Kagame is pleased with how his country has emulated Singapore and her successes. “When they say this is the Singapore of Africa, I think maybe it’s a recognition that Rwanda has learnt a thing or two from Singapore and has applied it and seen its transformation,” he said.

But Singaporeans too, have learned much from Rwanda.

Mr Chong said that even though many Rwandans lost family members during the genocide, and some escaped to live as refugees in neighbouring countries, they have never let those episodes set them back.

“They grew up without a lot of opportunity.  But you can see the resilience in people that when they come back, they say they have to make this country work,” he said.

Watch the story of Rwanda in episode 2 of Finding Singapore, on Feb 12, 8pm (SG/HK).

SINGAPORE – The sound of metal crashing against metal echoes around the almost-empty sports hall as eight men go at one another furiously with chairs.

The chase is end to end, but this is not a street brawl. Rather, it is an enthralling game of wheelchair rugby.

Played between two teams of four each, wheelchair on wheelchair contact is a key part of the sport that was once known as “murderball”.

It makes for a thrilling spectacle and the adrenaline rush keeps the Singapore wheelchair rugby team coming back for more.

“It is very exciting, quite similar to (riding) bumper cars,” player Terence Chua told TODAY during a recent training session. The 43-year-old, who has spina bifida, added: “Being wheelchair-bound, there are not many sports I can play, so wheelchair rugby is one where I can get myself moving and it is rather fun.”

The team was set up in collaboration with Raja Singh, the vice-president of the Singapore Disability Sports Council (SDSC), and ActiveSG last August. They train every Friday evening at Toa Payoh Sports Hall, with five to six volunteers helping out.

The sport was started in 1977 in Canada by quadriplegic athletes seeking an alternative to wheelchair basketball, catering to those who do not possess enough strength or mobility to shoot a basketball. Athletes must have some loss of function in both upper and lower limbs.

Teams can be mixed-gender. It is played by over 40 countries worldwide; Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore are the only South-east Asian nations with teams.

SMASHING STEREOTYPES

The 12-strong Singapore team is led by captain Richard Kuppusamy. A coach from Malaysia helped to guide the team in its early months, but has since left. Kuppusamy, 40, doubles up as coach and the members study YouTube videos and other material online to enhance their knowledge.

“Wheelchair rugby smashes stereotypes of disabled people in wheelchairs being frail and weak,” said Kuppusamy, who has spina bifida. “In fact, the sport empowers disabled people to become active and do things they might not imagine they could do.”

The wheelchairs are specially designed for extra strength, speed, stability and safety. Defensive chairs feature a “picker” to snag opponents, while offensive chairs have armoured wings to deflect hits.

Passing is permitted and a try is only valid when a player crosses the opponents’ try line with the ball in possession.

Physical contact between players is forbidden, as is striking another wheelchair from behind because of the danger of toppling the opponent over.

Sheikh Mohd Danial Bawthan, who joined last September, acknowledged the “rough” nature of the sport but noted players usually abide by rules.

“Usually, there aren’t any serious injuries, though we do end up with abrasions,” said the 23-year-old who has muscular dystrophy. “I get sore muscles, especially my back and triceps, because we do a lot of pushing and turning.”

The wheelchairs take plenty of damage though, with three to four inner tubes punctured per session; occasionally, axles get bent too. They cost about S$50 and S$200 respectively to repair.

“The maintenance is around S$300 per month,” Kuppusamy said. “At present, the cost of repairs is borne by ActiveSG, with assistance provided by DNR Wheels Pte Ltd.”

The current batch of nine wheelchairs are on loan from the non-profit Bali Sports Foundation, but the players have plans to purchase their own chairs by the end of the year. Each wheelchair costs around S$2,000.

The team has no sponsors currently, but is “open to developing relationships with corporate partners”.

TURNING COMPETITIVE

The team is not focused on being competitive right now, although they have been to a few tournaments, such as The Association For International Sport For All (TAFISA) World Sport for All Games last October. They are planning to play some regional tournaments this year and aim to field a team at the 2018 Asian Para Games. The sport is not included in this year’s Asean Para Games.

“Para-sports need not just be for the goal of playing in international tournaments,” Kuppusamy explained. “The two goals of building an open team and training for the Para Games work in synergy with each other.

“We are taking it slow and steady to build the team up as we don’t have the resources in the current programme to sustain a much larger team.

“We have to establish ourselves as a credible group of players before we can identify who is willing and able to represent Singapore in an international para games.”

Danial added: “The whole team is working very hard to gather knowledge and experience. Definitely, we hope to represent Singapore (in future).”

Official tournaments require players to be classified according to level of disability while non-classified players, including able-bodied players, can take part in open-class tournaments.

There are eight classified Singaporean players currently; the rest act as sparring partners for the team.

“As the open-class players are going to be more physically capable, they will also be harder to beat in a match, therefore improving the skills and tactics that the classified team will need to employ to win,” Kuppusamy, who is non-classified, explained.

One challenge is getting a venue to train regularly. There have been times when the Toa Payoh Hall, a public facility that has to be booked, has been unavailable. Other considerations include storage space for equipment and accessibility to public transport.

But the players’ love for the sport, and for one another, is clear judging from the light-hearted banter and camaraderie throughout the three-hour session.

“I was previously involved in wheelchair racing and swimming, but I feel wheelchair rugby is where I should be,” Daniel said.

Kuppusamy summed it up simply: “The interaction that comes from team sport is special. We have a family of players who can support one another on and off the court.”

Support the TODAY Enable Fund for the special needs community. Find out more via www.todayonline.com/enable.

If you know of more stories of people with disabilities, email us at news@newstoday.com.sg

SINGAPORE: One person died on Saturday (Feb 11) after a massive Tembusu tree toppled at the Singapore Botanic Gardens, interrupting an event organised by the High Commission of Canada that was scheduled to start at 5pm.

The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said it was alerted to the incident near the Symphony Stage at 4.25pm and that five people were taken to the National University Hospital.

NParks confirmed in a statement at 8.32pm that one of the five had died. The agency also said it was investigating the cause of the tree – which was 40m tall with a girth of 6.5m – falling. 

“Our priority now is to accord assistance to the families of the deceased and the injured,” it added in the statement.

Eyewitness Jonathan Ang, who was there for the concert, said he was sitting at the open area away from most of the trees.

“Suddenly we heard a cracking sound, like thunder,” he said. 

Across the main path, a tree fell “within five seconds”, taking another tree beside it down with it. 

“There were easily a hundred of us that rushed forward to help push the branches, the logs away,” he added, estimating that there were about four to six people under the “huge” tree when it fell. 

Mr Ang said that thankfully, there were not many people sitting in the area as it was under the sun. Most of those nearby also appeared to be unharmed – “except for one poor woman, I’m not sure if she made it … She was unconscious and her husband was calling for her.”

SCDF arrived within about five minutes, and paramedics appeared to be trying to revive the woman, he added. 

A note posted on the Canada High Commission’s Twitter account at 5.18pm said the Canada 150 concert had been cancelled due to “unforeseen circumstances”. The event was meant to countdown to the country’s 150th birthday with a concert by renowned Canadian pianist Roger Lord and an opening performance by the Canadian International School’s Symphonic Band 9-12. Singaporean DJ duo Rave Republic was also at the Botanic Gardens.

When Channel NewsAsia arrived at the scene at about 5.45pm, police were seen on the site and the area had been cordoned off.

(Photo: Wendy Wong)

More than 20 workers were also seen clearing the branches from the toppled tree at about 6.15pm. 

At about 6.30pm, SCDF added that it was working with NParks personnel in the search operation.