SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore strengthened its anti-terror laws on Tuesday by formally codifying United Nations resolutions adopted after the attacks on the United States.
Singapore quickly voiced support for the U.S.-led war on terror after the September 11 attacks but also must balance regional sensitivities as a trade-dependent nation with a Chinese majority and significant Malay and Indian communities.
The Ministry of Law said the United Nations (Anti-Terrorism Measures) Regulations gave effect to Resolution 1373 adopted by the U.N. Security Council.
"The regulations, which apply to any person in Singapore as well as Singapore citizens outside Singapore, criminalise the direct or indirect provision of financial assistance to terrorists," the ministry said in a statement.
"They also provide for punishment of hoaxes of terrorist acts," it said. "The intent of this provision is to deal with serious cases and with cases which are not covered by other existing legislation."
The ministry did not detail the potential penalties under the new rules, which also require citizens to inform the police if they have knowledge of "property belonging to any terrorist".
The tiny city state -- mindful of the potential for violence by Muslim extremists in neighbouring Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines – beefed up security at key sites such as Changi Airport and the Jurong petrochemical hub after the U.S. attacks.
Senior government officials have said they see no evidence of domestic extremism but cannot rule out the possibility of some citizens falling under the sway of outside groups.
Foreign Affairs Minister S. Jayakumar, speaking at the U.N. Security Council ministerial meeting on counter-terrorism in New York on Monday, repeated Singapore's commitment to the "central global priority" of battling extremism.
"This is not a fight against any religion. It is not a fight against the people of Afghanistan," he said. "It is a fight against the forces of violence, intolerance and fanaticism. It is a fight for civilisation and a fight that we must win."
Jayakumar said many regional and international groupings had vowed to unite against terror but now faced the challenge of translating "statements of outrage and declarations of resolve into coherent and coordinated international action".