Young people must learn to spot charlatans: Shanmugam
Knowing how to identify charlatans is important for young people in order for them to act responsibly and legally when pursuing political and social causes, Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said in Parliament yesterday.
In addition, knowledge about world affairs, how different political systems work, Singapore's history, and how the balance between state power and individual autonomy is struck in different societies are also important, he added.
These were among the points he laid out in his reply to Nominated MP Walter Theseira, who asked how the minister could assure students of their right to take part in causes here responsibly.
Mr Shanmugam, who is also the Law Minister, agreed that it was important for students to know their rights and responsibilities. Similarly, they need to know "how to identify charlatans, those who promise the world and deliver nothing", he said.
A charlatan is a person who deceives, often to gain advantage. The exchange comes in the wake of a debate on the cancellation of a Yale-NUS College course about dissent and resistance.
Earlier, Education Minister Ong Ye Kung had addressed MPs' worries, which range from academic freedom to rules for off-limit topics in autonomous universities.
Associate Professor Theseira also wanted to know if the Ministry of Home Affairs regulates or monitors political activities of student groups.
Mr Shanmugam said his ministry's agencies focus on those who engage in activities that endanger national security.
Citing an instance in which a 17-year-old Singaporean who had planned to join the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) was arrested, Mr Shanmugam said that did not mean the agencies monitor all 17-year-olds.
"We do not and we cannot, and we are unable to monitor all of them," he said.
Prof Theseira noted that Mr Ong had listed groups of individuals that academic institutions should not work with, for example, those who had committed public order-related offences or have shown disloyalty to Singapore.
He asked Mr Shanmugam if that also meant student groups would not be allowed to engage with such individuals.
The minister replied that such individuals do not ipso facto become security risks.
"If they do become security risks, they will be monitored," he added.
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