Aware programme 'exceeded guidelines'

Aware programme 'exceeded guidelines'

Iswaran: Parents right to be concerned about sexuality education programme

By Theresa Tan & Amelia Tan
		Speaking after a community event yesterday, Mr Iswaran said the core sexuality programme devised by the MOE would continue in schools. -- ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG

PARENTS are quite right to be concerned about some parts of the Association of Women for Action and Research's (Aware) sexuality education programme, Senior Minister of State for Education S. Iswaran said yesterday.

He said that after investigations were conducted into the programme, 'there's a sense that they have exceeded the guidelines'.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said that all sexuality education programmes run by external groups in schools will be suspended until a new, tougher vetting process for such programmes is put in place.

Among the suspended programmes was the controversial one by Aware. The ministry had said it had some suggested responses which are 'explicit and inappropriate, and convey messages which could promote homosexuality or suggest approval of premarital sex'.

Neither the ministry nor Mr Iswaran gave details of which parts of the Aware programme they were referring to.

The basic instructor's guide for Aware's programme, a copy of which was posted online, contained lines such as 'anal sex can be healthy or neutral if practised with consent and with a condom', and 'homosexuality is perfectly normal. Just like heterosexuality, it is simply the way you are'.

Speaking after a community event yesterday, Mr Iswaran said the core sexuality programme devised by the MOE would continue in schools.

This programme, he stressed, strives to keep sexuality education in line with mainstream values in Singapore.

It is based on the family as the basic unit and conservative mainstream values in Singapore, he said.

Asked yesterday if the ministry was negligent in taking so long to uncover the specifics of the Aware programme, Mr Iswaran explained that there are more than 350 schools here, and they are given considerable autonomy.

Teachers and principals are working on a range of matters, he said. This being the case, 'it is understandable that from time to time, there might be instances', referring to programmes which do not meet the ministry's guidelines.

Mr Iswaran's comments come slightly over a week after he said the MOE had not received any complaints about Aware's programme and saw no reason to intervene.

Two days later, however, the ministry said it would investigate.

Yesterday, when asked what prompted the change, Mr Iswaran would say only that some complaints were received.

The MOE has told The Straits Times it has received more than 100 e-mail messages and calls about the Aware programme since last week.

Contacted yesterday about how he decided to engage Aware, the principal of a secondary school said the school's head of pupil development met the group a few times to discuss the programme's content.

The principal - who did not want his name or that of his school to be used - then agreed to engage the group for one session.

After this, however, he decided to stop the sessions as 'some of the values communicated were different from what the school believes in and the programme was not a good fit'. He did not elaborate.

The principal added: 'Some organisations can talk until the cows come home about how well they can deliver the programme, but you never know how good the fit is until you actually try it.'

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Mas Selamat was PLOTTING HITS ON S'PORE

May 9, 2009

Mas Selamat was PLOTTING HITS ON S'PORE

He was 'planning a lot of things' when he was caught, says Najib

By Chua Lee Hoong, Political Editor
		The Indonesian authorities caught up with him in February 2003 on Bintan Island (left). A botched escape attempt during his imprisonment left him with a broken left leg and a permanent limp. -- ST PHOTO: AZIZ HUSSIN

JEMAAH Islamiah (JI) terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari was plotting attacks on Singapore at the time he was captured in Johor on April 1.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak disclosed this to Malaysian media yesterday, hours after Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng told local media the JI leader escaped Singapore by swimming across the narrow stretch of water that separates Singapore from Johor, with the help of an 'improvised flotation device'. (See story below)

Datuk Seri Najib told Malaysian reporters: 'We apprehended him here (in Malaysia), his main focus at the time was Singapore. He was planning a lot of things in Singapore.'

He did not provide details, but said he had 'mentioned this' to Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong when they met in Pattaya, Thailand, on April 10-11 for the Asean summit that was eventually aborted because of protests.

Mr Lee was 'very happy and grateful that Malaysia has succeeded in apprehending Mas Selamat', said Mr Najib.

Mas Selamat, leader of a group of Singaporean JI members, escaped from the Whitley Road Detention Centre on Feb 27 last year.

He was captured in Johor on April 1, according to regional intelligence sources The Straits Times spoke to.

This was confirmed by Mr Wong at a press conference in Singapore yesterday, the same day The Straits Times broke the news of the capture.

Mr Wong said that as far as the authorities know, no local JI network was involved in aiding Mas Selamat's dash from Whitley to Singapore's northern shore.

Mr Wong, who is also Home Affairs Minister, said the Singapore Government did not inform the public of the capture earlier because doing so could jeopardise operational secrecy and perhaps even endanger sources of information.

The Malaysian Special Branch (MSB) and Singapore's Internal Security Department (ISD) both avoid premature disclosure that can compromise ongoing investigations, he noted.

'For example, sometimes, intelligence obtained from interviews of arrestees may put us on the trail of other terrorists. In such instances, premature public revelation of the first arrest would cause the other terrorists to flee, and compromise our ability to capture them,' he explained.

In the case of Mas Selamat, intelligence provided by ISD late last year helped the Malaysian authorities to make the arrest on April 1, he said.

Two Malaysian JI terrorists were arrested the same day, according to other reports.

'ISD has been following many leads. At the end of last year, one of ISD's own leads helped to pinpoint where Mas Selamat could be hiding. When it was generally satisfied that the information was credible, we passed the information to Malaysia,' said Mr Wong.

Replying to a question about the role of the Singapore public, he said a lot of information was provided but none proved credible, and it was ISD's own information that led to the breakthrough.

He noted that ISD officers had been in constant touch with their Malaysian counterparts, as with their other regional counterparts, to exchange information.

Mr Wong said the Malaysian authorities informed Singapore of the April 1 arrest 'soon after' it occurred.

Mas Selamat is currently being held under the Internal Security Act in Malaysia.

'The Malaysian authorities want to interview him, and in good time he will be returned to Singapore,' Mr Wong said.

He pointed out that Mas Selamat is still technically under a Detention Order issued by ISD and last renewed in March last year.

When Mas Selamat is returned to Singapore, he will be sent back to Whitley Road Detention Centre, he said.

'But today's Whitley Road is a very different detention centre from the one he fled. We have now made it very difficult for anyone to escape from there,' he said.

Mas Selamat's latest arrest is his third since 2003, and each time information provided by ISD proved crucial, noted Mr Wong.

The first time was in February 2003 when the Indonesian authorities caught up with him on Bintan Island. A botched escape attempt during his imprisonment left him with a broken left leg and a permanent limp.

He was not handed over to Singapore after he served his prison term and went missing for about five months.

He was captured a second time by the Indonesian authorities in early 2006 for using a fake identity card. This time, he was handed over to Singapore in February 2006.

He was held at the Whitley Road Detention Centre until his escape on Feb 27 last year.

Recalling Mas Selamat's past escapes, Mr Wong noted that he had told Parliament at its sitting on Feb 5 this year: 'Whether Mas Selamat is in Singapore or he has fled our country, we will hunt him down as we did before.

'And this is indeed what has happened,' he said.

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Govt will plug any weakness in Singapore's border security

Govt will plug any weakness in Singapore's border security
By Cheryl Lim, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 09 May 2009 1813 hrs

	Photos 1 of 1 Mr K Shanmugam (file pic)
	Video Mas Selamat's possible water escape routes Special Report • Mas Selamat Arrest

SINGAPORE: Singapore's Law and Second Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam has said security along the country's borders is tight.

He stressed that if there is any weakness in Singapore's border security, the government will work towards plugging it.

Mr Shanmugam was speaking on the sidelines of a fund-raising event organised by New Hope Community Society.

He was responding to questions on whether border security measures would be enhanced, after it emerged that terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari had swum across the Straits of Johor from Singapore's northern coast using an improvised flotation device.

Mr Shanmugam said: "In certain stretches between Singapore and Malaysia, it's a few hundred metres across. And every day people try to get in. It's a constant challenge for officers. Wherever it can be plugged, of course we will do so, but it's a pretty tight system."

He also commended the close cooperation between the police forces of Singapore and Malaysia in the re-arrest of Mas Selamat.

He said Singapore's Home Team officers were very stretched with their duties when Mas Selamat escaped in February last year.

They had to put in extra effort beyond their call of duty to track him down.

But the arrest of the Jemaah Islamiyah leader shows the determination of the Internal Security Department (ISD).

- CNA/ir
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Mas Selamat's arrest puts sleepy town of Skudai in spotlight

Mas Selamat's arrest puts sleepy town of Skudai in spotlight
By Shaik Mohd Iqbal/Lip Kok Wai, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 09 May 2009 2338 hrs

	Photos 1 of 1 > " onclick="Next();" src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_next.gif" type="image" width="18" height="15">
	Video Mas Selamat's arrest puts sleepy town of Skudai in spotlight Special Report • Mas Selamat Arrest

SKUDAI, JOHOR BAHRU: Malaysian media reports say Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) leader Mas Selamat Kastari was arrested in Skudai during a dawn raid.

This immediately put the sleepy town near Johor Bahru in the spotlight.

What are the reactions of residents living there upon discovering the link between their town and Singapore's most wanted fugitive?

Located just 25 minutes away from the Causeway, Skudai is very near popular hangouts that Singaporeans frequent when they cross over to Johor.

Therefore, it is difficult to imagine that of all places, Skudai was where Mas Selamat had been hiding to evade arrest.

This too was the reaction of Tan Ah Eng, the Member of Parliament for Gelang Patah, the constituency which Skudai falls under.

She said: "I really feel surprised that he was here for the few months because I used to go down to the villages and visit the villagers because they are all in my constituency. They never mention to me that there are suspicious people around here.

"For me....it's (like) impossible for him to be here for so long and the villagers did not notice at all."

Indeed, some residents said an outsider like Mas Selamat should not have gone unnoticed in this Chinese-majority district.

Nonetheless, residents said they are relieved Mas Selamat has been caught so there is no chance for the JI leader to cause any harm.

However, some residents are concerned that Skudai may be associated with the JI terror network.

"Of course I'm worried, because he's a wanted man, so I'm worried...We thought he might be in Indonesia , but suddenly he's arrested here, so that's why we are shocked," said a Malay woman.

"Ya lah, I'm surprised, how come he can stay in the Skudai area? We are also going to be scared," said an Indian man.

Acknowledging these concerns, the area's MP shared some plans she intends to put in place to address the issue.

Ms Tan said: "I feel that it's impossible that my area is a JI breeding ground. But, no matter how, I will discuss or inform my village head and also the chairman of UMNO branch so that (they can) create awareness among the villagers to cooperate, to inform the police if there're any suspicious people around their area."

On a more positive note, many residents said now that Mas Selamat is in custody, it will be easier for Johoreans to go through the Woodlands checkpoint without having to go through additional checks.

- CNA/ir

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Mas Selamat's re-arrest not the end of Singapore's problem

Mas Selamat's re-arrest not the end of Singapore's problem
By Cheryl Lim, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 09 May 2009 1851 hrs

	Photos 1 of 1 > " onclick="Next();" src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_next.gif" type="image" width="18" height="15"> Mas Selamat Kastari
	Video Mas Selamat caught unawares Special Report • Mas Selamat Arrest

SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said Singapore's security challenge is to keep up its guard without getting fatigued or complacent.

In his first remarks on the capture of Mas Selamat Kastari, Mr Lee said Singapore must not think that the re-arrest of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) leader is the end of its problem.

He said the terrorism situation in Southeast Asia is under control, but the threat is far from over. He added that the price of security is eternal vigilance.

In a statement to the media on Saturday, the Prime Minister also said information about the capture of Mas Selamat on 1 April was not made public earlier, because of a prior agreement with the Malaysian authorities.

Mr Lee said he was told about the arrest by his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak on 11 April during an impromptu four-eye lunch in Thailand's Pattaya after the ASEAN meeting was called off due to demonstrations.

He thanked Datuk Seri Najib for Malaysia's generous support and help and told him Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Wong Kan Seng had earlier told him of the arrest.

Mr Lee said he was happy and relieved that Mas Selamat had been found and arrested before he could do any harm.

But Malaysia had asked Singapore to keep this information quiet for the time being, so Singapore respected this and held the information very tightly in order not to jeopardise the operation.

But on May 7 afternoon during a weekly pre-Cabinet meeting lunch, Mr Wong received a phone call informing him that the Internal Security Department (ISD) had received a request from the The Straits Times to confirm a scoop that Mas Selamat had been arrested by the Malaysian authorities.

As the news had leaked, the Singapore government had no choice but to confirm the story.

Ministers who were present at the lunch were completely taken by surprise when Mr Wong told them that Mas Selamat had been arrested.

In his statement, Mr Lee also thanked all officers involved in tracking down Mas Selamat over the past year.

He said he never had a doubt that Mas Selamat would be found because he knew the quality and commitment of the ISD officers working on this.

He said the ISD had recovered quickly from the mistakes which led to Mas Selamat's escape from the Whitley Road Detention Centre in February last year.

Mr Lee also thanked the ISD and its Malaysian counterpart, the Special Branch, for working closely together.

- CNA/ir

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Mas Selamat's arrest will have little or no impact on JI splinter cells

Mas Selamat's arrest will have little or no impact on JI splinter cells
By Loh Chee Kong, TODAY | Posted: 09 May 2009 0743 hrs

	Photos 1 of 1 > " type="image">
	Related News • Politicians, community leaders welcome Mas Selamat's arrest • Malaysia says Mas Selamat under investigation for allegedly plotting against the country • Some Singaporeans express doubts over Mas Selamat's capture • Malaysia confirms Islamic militant Mas Selamat in detention • Singapore government confirms arrest of Mas Selamat • Singapore's JI leader Mas Selamat arrested in Malaysia Special Report • Mas Selamat Captured

SINGAPORE: Kudos to Singapore's Internal Security Department and the Malaysian Special Branch for the recapture of former Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) leader Mas Selamat Kastari.

And yes, his arrest has dealt a blow to a JI network already suffering from "a crisis of leadership", as S Rajaratnam School of International Studies’ (RSIS) senior fellow Antonio Rappa pointed out.

But hold the champagne — there is precious little time to rejoice, not with major events such as the Youth Olympics and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings to be held here in the near future.

Indeed, it would be foolish and ironic for Singaporeans to let their guard down now, especially since Mas Selamat's escape in February last year had drilled home important lessons on complacency.

Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng was the first to remind Singaporeans to stay vigilant. "Singaporeans must not think that just because Mas Selamat is arrested ... the threat of terrorism will not be there anymore," Mr Wong, who is also the Home Minister, said on Friday as he confirmed the arrest.

In the 13 months that Mas Selamat was hiding, presumably in Johor, terrorists elsewhere had been hogging the limelight: Attacks in Mumbai and Lahore killed more than 190 people and injured hundreds more.

Just last week, Singaporeans received the sombre news that one of its own, Mohammad Hassan Saynudin, was convicted in an Indonesian court for leading three other terrorists in killing a Christian-Indonesian teacher and plotting an attack on a bar frequented by non-Muslims.

His case offers the latest example of how splinter cells are posing to be the "bigger danger", said Ms Sidney Jones, a senior adviser with the International Crisis Group.

Noting how Mohammad Hassan single-handedly turned the cell from a "non-violent group into a violent group", Ms Jones told Weekend Xtra: "You only need one committed person who can then recruit and organise a much smaller group that may have had no affiliation to jihadist groups more generally."

The reality is that the recapture of Mas Selamat would have little or no impact on these splinter cells, said Ms Jones.

Dr Rappa added: "We also have to realise that there are larger problems looming in the horizon ... not just Mas Selamat, he was just like the flavour of the month."

To rehabilitate or not?

As and when the Malaysian authorities hand him over, Mas Selamat would be brought back to the Whitley Road Detention Centre, which has beefed up its security considerably since the lapses.

But as the authorities have stressed previously, the facility was designed to rehabilitate — and not punish — detainees.

Given his numerous escape attempts, Mas Selamat's belligerence — he was caught with two others while reportedly hatching another terrorist plot — has cast doubts on his willingness to abandon extremist leanings.

Said RSIS' Associate Professor Kumar Ramakrishna: "It is not even clear if he would accept rehabilitation as he is without doubt a truly hardcore 'true believer'. Religious rehabilitation is extremely difficult with such individuals."

Mr Muhammad Haniff Hassan, a prominent Muslim cleric, stressed that Mas Selamat "remains an ordinary human being who deserves a chance", despite his track record.

The general consensus around the world is that rehabilitation is an effective and humane tool to quell the extremist threat. Notable successes include the leaders of the Egyptian Al-Jihad and Islamic Groups — two of the largest groups in the world — who renounced violence in 1997 and 2007 respectively.

"(They) have now become the forefront critiques of Al Qaeda after more than a decade in prisons," said Mr Muhammad.

On rehabilitation, Ms Jones said: "The problem with these programmes, in general, is that the only way you know if they’ve been successful is if somebody is tempted to rejoin the network.

"In Singapore, when people get released, they are mostly not exposed to temptation ... Mas Selamat had the opportunity (to escape) and he took it — with vengeance."


- TODAY/so

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Aware: Standing by CSE and Moving On

Standing by CSE and Moving On

You may have already read or heard the news about the Education Ministry’s decision to suspend AWARE’s Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) programme in schools pending its new vetting processes for such programmes. This move also affects similar programmes offered by other organisations.

We sent the media our response yesterday and I thought I should also write to you regarding our position.

We stand by our CSE programme. As I’ve said to the press, we’ve been running the programme for two years without complains. The Ministry’s statement of April 28th confirmed it had not received any complaints from the students, or their parents, who have been through the programme.

What is currently at issue, as revealed in the Ministry’s statement yesterday, lies specifically with some of the suggested responses in the Instructor Guide that it found to be “explicit and inappropriate”.

We are prepared to review these and make any necessary changes so long as the principles and objectives of the CSE are not compromised. Yesterday’s statement from the Ministry has also noted that the CSE carries accurate information on STD and HIV and role-play practice for students to say no to sex.

What is important is that the CSE programme, and similar programmes that other organisations may have, continues to be available to students in Singapore . We hope to be able to resume the CSE programme before too long.

TOP GIRLS

Meanwhile, there is an immediate matter we need your help with – sale of tickets for the Gala evening of TOP GIRLS, a fund-raiser for AWARE scheduled for Saturday, 30 May. It will be a great opportunity to put aside more weighty issues and celebrate life and renewal together.

The Caryl Churchill play is among the best 100 plays of the 20th Century on the British National Theatre’s Millennium list. It won the Obie Award in 1983. The Wessex Theatre production is directed by Daniel Toyne, and has a seven member all woman cast playing 16 roles in all! The play has some coarse language but promises an evening of heart-warming truths, and laughter.

It is being staged from 27th May to 30th May. Tickets for the Gala Night on 30th May are at $80 each. This comes with an invite to a reception brought to us by Harry’s and WineGuru. See you all there!

Please call AWARE Centre 6779 7137 or email tickets@aware.org.sg to buy tickets. And, mark the date on your calendar!

Warmest Regards,

Dana Lam

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