Singapore has rehabilitated 57 extremists: PM Lee Hsien Loong

But there was one case of recidivism out of those released, he said at the closing of the two-day East Asia Summit on Religious Rehabilitation and Social Integration here yesterday.

Lee attributed the "resounding success" to the work of the Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG), formed in 2003, after a crackdown on the Jemaah Islamiyah terror network in Singapore.

"RRG's good work had helped Singapore release from detention 57 extremists since 2003 - with only one case of recidivism," Lee said.

Lee reiterated that security actions and operational capabilities are not enough to counter the terror threat. Just as important are rehabilitation and reintegration.

In Singapore's context, the Prime Minister said "the country also needs to address the religious and social dimensions, as part of a broader approach to addressing the problem."

"Muslim communities need to be guided and work has to be done to prevent perverted and dangerous ideas from catching on. We have to work to build an integrated, harmonious and multi-religious society," he said.

"So that we avoid problems of marginalisation, religious enclaves, misperceptions and resentments, which can feed on themselves and generate religious extremism and terrorism," the Channel News Asia quoted Mr Lee as saying.

"In particular, in Singapore, we have a substantial minority of Muslims in our midst, living peacefully with other races and religions. So any terrorist attack invoking the name of Islam in vain will have grave consequences for us," he said.

Lee said the harmony Singapore enjoys is a precious state of affairs - the result of a conscious and sustained effort to build trust and mutual understanding.

He cited the policy of requiring public housing estates to be ethnically integrated, thereby mitigating the creation of ghettos.

Another important reason the country has been able to achieve peace and harmony is because of support from Muslim leaders and the community in Singapore.

"This is an absolute requirement if we are to make any headway in the fight against terrorism," he said.