REJECTING EXTREMISM: SINGAPORE MUSLIM "CREDIBLE

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 SINGAPORE 001732

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

FOR IIP/CTCC, JVAN DE VELDE
FOR EAP/PD, GMCLOUGHLIN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/11/2032
TAGS: KISL SN
SUBJECT: REJECTING EXTREMISM: SINGAPORE MUSLIM "CREDIBLE
VOICES"

REF: A. A. STATE 122288

B. B. SINGAPORE 1145

C. C. 06 SINGAPORE 373

D. D. 06 SINGAPORE 369

E. E. 05 SINGAPORE 3147

F. F. 05 SINGAPORE 3146

G. G. 05 SINGAPORE 1986

H. H. 05 SINGAPORE 1835

Classified By: Ambassador Patricia L. Herbold. Reasons 1.4(b)(d).


1. (S/NF) A number of prominent Malay/Muslim Singaporeans
speak out against extremism with "credible voices" and are
identified below, per Ref A request. The Government of
Singapore (GOS) strongly emphasizes the importance of
preserving racial and religious harmony and has implemented
various measures to encourage inter-faith dialogue and
moderation through such measures as sponsoring "inter-racial
confidence circles." At the same time, the GOS closely
monitors developments in the Malay/Muslim community to
prevent extremism from developing. The GOS strictly controls
political expression and does not permit extremist or radical
views to be aired publicly. For example, it has convicted
non-Muslim Singaporeans under the Sedition Act for making
derogatory comments about Muslims.

DR. YAACOB IBRAHIM
--------------


2. (C) Dr. Yaacob Ibrahim is the Minister-in-charge of Muslim
Affairs. His position makes him the most influential secular
Muslim voice in Singapore. Dr. Ibrahim studied in the United
States and has an extensive record of community service with
several different Malay/Muslim organizations. His speeches
are covered in detail by the government-controlled
Singaporean media, both English- and Malay-speaking. He
often speaks on the need for racial harmony and moderation in
Islam, in line with GOS policy. Dr. Ibrahim has called upon
Singapore's Muslim religious teachers (asatizah) to promote
correct Islamic teachings and help their students to be good
citizens in Singapore's multiracial, secular society. He
often attends events with U.S. officials and hosts U.S.
speakers and officials.

HAJI MOHAMMAD ALAMI MUSA
--------------


3. (C) Haji Mohammad Alami Musa is the President of MUIS
(Islamic Religious Council of Singapore),the government
statutory board that guides government policy toward Muslim
affairs. His is the most frequently voice heard in the
Malay/Muslim community, promoting tolerance and moderation at
community events on a weekly basis. Mr. Musa's speeches are
covered in detail by the Singaporean media. He promotes
racial and religious harmony and moderation in Islam. After
the recent arrest of a Singaporean Malay/Muslim who intended
to join the Taliban (Ref B),Mr. Musa spoke on the need to
take the terrorist threat seriously in Singapore. He
announced the establishment of a new division within MUIS
that will focus on youth engagement and correct Islamic
teachings with the aim of counteracting radical ideologies.
Mr. Musa often attends events with U.S. officials and at the
Ambassador's Residence, and he and his staff receive U.S.
Government visitors regularly at MUIS.

SYED FARID ALATAS
--------------


4. (C) Syed Farid Alatas is an Associate Professor in the
Department of Sociology and the Head of Malay Studies at the
National University of Singapore (NUS). (His father, Syed
Hussein Alatas, was also a prominent sociologist and a
Fulbright Scholar.) Dr. Alatas speaks frequently on the need
for Muslims to fight against extremist views within the ummah
(worldwide Muslim community). He espouses a return to the
Sufi cultural and intellectual tradition and seeks to
eradicate extremist strains in all religions. Dr. Alatas
regularly conducts seminars and workshops at NUS, local
think-tanks, and Malay/Muslim community organizations in an
effort to engage the Muslim public. Dr. Alatas is well
respected in the Malay/Muslim communities of Malaysia and
Singapore. He has no known record of advocating violence or
criticizing U.S. policy, although he advocates that Muslims
reject traditional Western sociological theories and create
their own discourse. He has hosted U.S. speakers and
participated in events with U.S. officials.

SINGAPORE 00001732 002 OF 002



SYED HASSAN BIN MOHAMED ALATTAS
--------------


5. (C) Syed Hassan bin Mohamed Alattas is the imam and head
of Ba'alwie Mosque and a member of the Inter-Religious
Organization (IRO). His great-grandfather was a famous
religious teacher in Mecca. After Singapore's Mufti, he is
probably the most respected Islamic scholar and teacher in
Singapore. Imam Hassan encourages interfaith dialogue
through the IRO, which promotes religious harmony and
includes representatives from the nine major religions in
Singapore. He writes articles for the English and Malay
newspapers and delivers sermons every Friday at his mosque,
which often hosts international visitors. His speeches and
writings support dialogue and respect among faiths. Imam
Hassan has attended events with U.S. officials, including an
Iftar dinner at the Ambassador's Residence.

USTAZ NAZIRUDIN MOHD NASIR
--------------


6. (C) Ustaz Nazirudin Mohd Nasir is the Head of the Office
of the Mufti and a member of the Fatwa Committee at MUIS. He
was educated at Al-Azhar University and the University of
London. Ustaz Nazirudin describes himself as "passionate"
about promoting positive depictions of Islam and countering
misinformation about jihad. He speaks fluent English, Malay,
and Arabic. His name has been mentioned in discussions with
other contacts as a possible future Mufti. To our knowledge,
Ustaz Nazirudin has not participated in events with U.S.
officials.


Visit Embassy Singapore's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eap/singapore/ind ex.cfm
HERBOLD