Coordinates: 1°19′24.58″N 103°50′38.72″E / 1.3234944°N 103.8440889°E / 1.3234944; 103.8440889

Internal Security Department
Internal Security Department (Singapore) logo.png
Agency overview
Formed17 February 1966; 56 years ago (1966-02-17)
Preceding agency
  • Special Branch, as part of the Malayan Security Service (1948)
HeadquartersNew Phoenix Park, 30 Irrawaddy Road, Singapore
Minister responsible
Parent agencyMinistry of Home Affairs
Websitemha.gov.sg/isd

The Internal Security Department (ISD) is a domestic counter-intelligence and security agency of Singapore under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), tasked to confront and address security threats, including international terrorism, foreign subversion and espionage. It has the utmost right to detain without trial individuals suspected to be a threat to national security.

The ISD also monitors and addresses potential threats from communism, prevention of racial tension which might affect the public peace, domestic counter-terrorism, international counter-terrorism, fraud against the state, surveillance, apprehension of suspected militants or terrorists and protection of Singapore's national borders.

History

ISD was first established as part of the Special Branch in 1948 by the British colonial government.

In 1963, it became part of the Malaysian Special Branch when Singapore merged with Malaysia, and after Singapore gained independence, the Internal Security Department was formally established on 17 February 1966.

It was formerly part of the Ministry of Interior and Defence (MID) until it was split on 11 August 1970. In 2004, it was placed under the National Security Coordination Secretariat to improve intelligence sharing with other national intelligence agencies.[1]

Legislation

The powers of investigation and arrest of the ISD are regulated by several laws, including:[2]

Timeline

See also: Timeline of Singaporean history

These events are related to ISD and internal security of Singapore.

Directors

The following is a list of former Director of the Internal Security Department. The identity of the director is not conspicuously made known to the public, until they relinquish the post.

Name In office Notes References
Yoong Siew Wah ?–1974 [11][12]
Wang Hsu Chih 1974–? (acting) [12]
Lim Chye Heng 1975–1982 [13][14]
Eddie Teo 1982–1986
Tjong Yik Min 1986–1993 [15][16]
Chiang Chie Foo 1993–1997 [17][18]
Benny Lim Siang Hoe 1997–2003 [18][19]
Pang Kin Keong ?–2010 [20][21][22]
Loh Ngai Seng 2010–2016 [20][23]
Tai Wei Shyong 2016–?

See also

References

  1. ^ "MINISTERIAL STATEMENT BY DR TONY TAN KENG YAM, DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND CO-ORDINATING MINISTER FOR SECURITY AND DEFENCE ON STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK FOR SINGAPORE'S NATIONAL SECURITY HELD ON TUESDAY, 20 JULY 2004 AT PARLIAMENT SITTING" (PDF). National Security Coordination Cent. Retrieved 20 September 2018.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ "About ISD". Internal Security Department. Archived from the original on 21 July 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2010.
  3. ^ ""Countering Threats", Ministry of Home Affairs". Archived from the original on 5 December 2012. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
  4. ^ "Mas Selamat was PLOTTING HITS ON S'PORE" (PDF). Retrieved 20 September 2018.
  5. ^ ""Pastor called up by ISD", Straits Times". Retrieved 9 February 2010.
  6. ^ Lim, Min Zhang (27 January 2021). "16-year old Singaporean detained under ISA for planning terror attacks on two mosques". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  7. ^ Mahmud, Aqil Haziq (27 January 2021). "16-year-old Singaporean detained under ISA after planning to attack Muslims at 2 mosques". CNA. Archived from the original on 27 January 2021. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  8. ^ Baharuddin, Hariz (10 March 2021). "Singaporean youth detained under ISA for planning knife attack on Jews leaving synagogue". The Straits Times. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  9. ^ Jaipragas, Bhavan (10 March 2021). "Singapore detains man who plotted knife attack on Jews; considers tighter security at places of worship". South China Morning Post. Archived from the original on 10 March 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.
  10. ^ "Suspect detained over planned attack on Singapore synagogue". Ynet. 10 March 2021. Retrieved 11 March 2021.((cite news)): CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ "Security chief upgraded to Director". eresources.nlb.gov.sg.
  12. ^ a b "Transfer for ISD chief Yoong". eresources.nlb.gov.sg.
  13. ^ "Head of ISDto give up job in October". eresources.nlb.gov.sg.
  14. ^ "Chye Heng named ISD acting director". eresources.nlb.gov.sg.
  15. ^ "SPH appoints new director". eresources.nlb.gov.sg.
  16. ^ "Former scholar is ISD head". eresources.nlb.gov.sg.
  17. ^ "ISD chief's new post". eresources.nlb.gov.sg.
  18. ^ a b "New director for Internal Security Dept". eresources.nlb.gov.sg.
  19. ^ "Top civil servants move". eresources.nlb.gov.sg.
  20. ^ a b "Head of Civil Service and Permanent Secretary Appointments". www.psd.gov.sg. Retrieved 4 September 2017.
  21. ^ "APPOINTMENT OF HEAD OF CIVIL SERVICE AND PERMANENT SECRETARIES" (PDF).
  22. ^ New appointments for other permanent secretaries, The Straits Times, 13 August 2010
  23. ^ hermesauto (8 December 2015). "Internal Security chief takes on second role".

Further reading

External links

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