Detention of Radicalised Teen, Budget 2021 on the Agenda for 16 Feb Parliamentary Sitting

In Jan 2021, a 16-year-old Singaporean boy was detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA).

His crime? Planning to blow up two mosques in Singapore.

The youngest ever to be detained for terrorism-related activities in Singapore, the boy was reportedly self-radicalised and will undergo counselling instead of serving his time in prison.

But is that the last we’ll hear of him?

It doesn’t seem like it.

Detention of Radicalised Teen, Budget 2021 on the Agenda for 16 Feb Parliamentary Sitting

According to a Todayonline report, eight questions have been filed for the 16 Feb 2021 parliament sitting.

Three of them pertain to the self-radicalised teenager.

From Holland-Bukit Timah Group Representation Constituency (GRC) MP Christopher de Souza: Will more legal tools will be put into place to detect, track and arrest self-radicalised individuals before it’s too late?

From Tampines GRC MP Desmond Choo: did investigations confirmed that the boy was acting alone?

From Bukit Batok Single Member Constituency MP Murali Pillai: Are there any steps to stop self-radicalisation from the internet?

For those interested in knowing more about the self-radicalised teenager and his plans, you can check out this comprehensive article here.

It lists the weapons he had planned to use, including a blueSG vehicle, and who his “role model” was.

Other Questions

Terrorists aren’t the only thing terrorising the world right now.

Questions were also filed regarding the current Covid-19 pandemic.

These include:

• Will all foreigners arriving in Singapore be required to buy travel insurance, including Covid-19 hospitalisation coverage?
• Why has Singapore not closed its doors to India and Indonesia, given the larger proportion of incoming cases from these countries?

Questions were also raised regarding the recent Myanmar coup, with Aljunied GRC’s Gerald Giam asking if there is an increase in the request for consular assistance in Myanmar.

It was also asked if ASEAN will issue a joint statement on the coup.

Budget 2021

In fact, these questions aren’t the only thing happening at the parliament sitting today.

DPM Heng Swee Keat will also be revealing Budget 2021 for the first time in his Budget 2021 speech.

Titled Emerging Stronger Together, some factors to look out for in this year’s budget, besides the GST Vouchers, include the various assistance schemes rolled out during Covid-19 and possible cooling measures.

You can catch his speech live at 3pm today at:

• The Ministry of Finance (Singapore) Facebook page
• 8视界新闻新加坡 8world News Facebook pages
• Budget website (www.singaporebudget.gov.sg)
• Live on CNA and Channel 5

Click here to find out more.

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