ARS (ASATIZAH RECOGNITION SCHEME): A CRITICAL EXAMINATION OF SINGAPORE’S STRATEGY IN MANAGING RELIGIOUS TEACHING AND RADICALISM

Abstract

The series of extremist attacks in the name of religion that exacerbated since 9/11 have intensified concerns towards Singapore’s security and have prompted the employment of a multipronged approach to counter it’s threats. This study seeks to examine the Asatizah Recognition Scheme (ARS) as a strategy to manage religious teachings and radicalism. Through employing mixed research methods including in-depth interviews with key stakeholders, some gaps and limitations of the Scheme will be identified. More importantly, this study seeks to connect to the broader problem in the Muslim religious life that is not tackled through the ARS. Some of the characteristics that are problematic will be highlighted and if unaddressed, these problems will have profound impacts towards the Muslims as well as the larger society. It is hoped that this thesis can be a modest contribution towards studies on the Scheme, on the asatizah and the Muslim religious life in Singapore.