Extremist ideology a staple item on Batam’s Radio Hang
Photo: Radio Hang FM 106/Facebook
SINGAPORE — For quite some time, a radio station in Batam has been propagating extremist ideology and propaganda that reaches listeners far and wide, including those in Singapore.
With preachers giving their own interpretation of the Quran on the station, Radio Hang is causing concern among religious leaders and terror experts here. The radio station has now come under the spotlight after it emerged on Friday (Aug 19) that two Singaporeans who were detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) recently became radicalised after listening to Radio Hang.
The radio station describes itself as a broadcast channel aimed at presenting the message of Islam. It notes that rapid globalisation around the world has given rise to “complex problems” which cause psychological distress and “erosion of religious values that influence inner peace”.
The official radio station website cannot be accessed from Singapore, but a live stream can still be heard from various websites.
Dr Rohan Gunaratna, who heads the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research at Nanyang Technological University’s S Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), said the radio station features “terrorist ideologues and propagandists”.
Assistant Professor Mohamed Nawab Mohamed Osman, also from RSIS, noted that the Radio Hang has been around “for a long time”.
“It seems that the owner of the station was influenced by the ideas of a puritanical Indonesian scholar Abdul Hakim Abdat in the mid-90s and decided to start airing the lectures of Hakim Abdat. Over a period of time, a decision was made to only air Islamic lectures and classes. The radio station is known for promoting religious scholars from a puritanical sect of Islam. It has reach in the Riau Islands, southern Malaysia and Singapore,” he said.
Ustaz Ali Haji Mohamed, co-chairman of the Religious Rehabilitation Group (RRG), noted that Radio Hang promotes programmes about Islam, such as the traditions of the Prophets and interpretation of the Quran. However, he added that if the speakers in the radio shows misinterpret the Quran, those listening to the programmes might end up being radicalised.
“We want Singaporeans to be alert on this matter, (they have) to be very careful when (they) listen to sermons on that radio (station),” Ustaz Ali added .
Mr Jasminder Singh, senior analyst with the RSIS’ International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, said although Radio Hang “outwardly appears (to be) an innocent radio station conveying religious messages ... in actuality, it seems to be conveying radical messages and has succeeded in transforming individuals, such as the Singapore case”.
While most analysts interviewed by TODAY agreed that the Singapore authorities could restrict access to Radio Hang by blocking it, they suggested that the authorities should also monitor the contents of its programmes.
Dr Rohan said the authorities in Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia should work with Radio Hang to ensure that it “refrains from giving a voice to those who seek to create violence”. “Media platforms such as Radio Hang should be monitored and their licences to broadcast revoked if they persist in propagating extremism and violence,” he added.
RSIS head of policy studies Kumar Ramakrishna pointed out that some religious radio stations abroad which can reach Singapore “may broadcast mostly mainstream material but then broadcast extremist preachers from time to time”. Thus, it can be hard for the relevant authorities to monitor everything throughout the day, said Assoc Prof Kumar. “In the end, the community must have the basic critical thinking ability to evaluate what they see, read and listen to,” he added.
Mr Singh pointed out that Al Bayan, Islamic State’s official radio station, is also “easily accessible” through the Internet.
“There are also many other radios like Radio Hang and by shutting them at one point, they will still be able to make a comeback online by changing their names, but still carrying the same content,” he added.
The Ministry of Home Affairs, noting that Radio Hang sometimes features speakers who preach extreme views, said on Friday: “The Government will block websites and radio stations, or remove online content that promote radical ideology, when it is deemed necessary.”
“More important, however, is to sensitise the public to the dangers of extremist rhetoric, and equip them with social media literacy so that they will not be vulnerable to terrorist propaganda. In this regard, our community and religious organisations have put in considerable effort to counter the radical ideology of Isis and jihadist terrorists,” the ministry added.
