THE Religious Rehabilitation Group's 160-page book carries interviews with several political leaders and RRG members. Here are some excerpts:
'It (the RRG) was fairly successful because at the end of several months, and in some cases several years of counselling, 26 were released. They were rehabilitated...
You cannot keep the detainees locked up, that is not the solution. The solution is to put them right and so they become normal Muslims again and their families lead normal lives.
But six have still not been convinced. They have stuck to their guns, especially the leader of the JI group (Ibrahim Maidin). They are just standing firm. They are convinced that they are right. Nothing seems to be able to change their beliefs. So we have to live with this problem and they just have to stay detained.'
Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, on RRG's role in countering terror
'It requires dedication. You have to match the dedication on the other side with dedication on your side. You believe what you are doing is right, you have to do it. It is more difficult than unwinding the communists...
They (extremists) can quote the Quran to justify what they are doing. That is our problem.'
MM Lee, on the RRG's role in future
'I found great satisfaction when a detainee expressed his deep gratitude for my help and guidance through a mutual friend. The detainee, who has been released, had asked the mutual friend to convey this: 'Please convey my salaam (greetings) to him and tell him that I am very grateful for the lessons he taught me. His advice changed my life.''
Ustaz Mohd Ibrahim Mohd Kassim, who has counselled about eight detainees, on one of them.
'A wife of a JI detainee refused counselling for four years, but when she finally came, she wept for more than an hour.
I just hugged her and let her cry. It was a very emotional moment for me too. But after she finished crying, I could see she was very relieved. At that moment, I was reminded why I am doing this work with the RRG.'
Ustazah Siti Rahmah Abdul Hamid, on one session with a detainee's wife
Contact secretariat@rrg.sg for : Winning Hearts & Minds, Embracing Peace
