Professor Jayakumar, who is also Coordinating Minister for National Security and Law Minister, was speaking at the 2005 Gulf Dialogue Second Plenary Session in Bahrain.
He warned that if countries fail to properly address the "ideology" of the extremists, then the fight against terrorism will not be won.
By Rita Zahira
BAHRAIN : Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister S. Jayakumar has urged countries in the Middle East and Asia to pool their experiences and knowledge in addressing the issue of radicalism, which leads to religious extremism and terrorism.
He said it was not enough for countries to merely focus on comprehensive physical measures.
Professor Jayakumar, who is also Coordinating Minister for National Security and Law Minister, was speaking at the 2005 Gulf Dialogue Second Plenary Session in Bahrain.
He warned that if countries fail to properly address the "ideology" of the extremists, then the fight against terrorism will not be won.
In the aftermath of September 11, Professor Jayakumar also noted that countries have rightly concentrated on putting in place urgent physical and operational security measures, such as strengthening security in the aviation, maritime, port and mass rapid transport sectors.
Countries have also reviewed their internal laws and organisational structures to deal promptly with terrorist challenges.
He said all these measures had led to significant progress in disrupting Al-Qaeda and the Jemaah Islamiyah network.
However, there is also an equal urgency to deal with the ideological aspects of radicalism and terrorism which leads to religious extremism and terror attacks.
In this regard, Professor Jayakumar shared Singapore's experience on the Religious Rehabilitation Group which some other countries, including Indonesia and Malaysia, have taken similar approaches.
