SINGAPORE, Nov 3 — Besides banning exclusivist foreign preachers from entering Singapore, local authorities could go a step further to regulate overseas trips organised by religious institutions to attend sermons or lectures by such preachers, said Malay-Muslim community leaders.

Currently, mosques and private Islamic institutions do not need any clearance from the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis) to conduct such trips, which are an occasional affair.

However, TODAY understands that mosques assess the backgrounds of foreign preachers beforehand to ensure followers are not exposed to radical or exclusivist teachings.

On Monday, the authorities announced two foreign Islamic preachers known for their divisive views — Zimbabwean Ismail Menk, who is better known as Mufti Menk, as well as Malaysian Haslin Baharim — had been banned from entering Singapore.

They had had their Miscellaneous Work Pass applications to preach here rejected previously, and were engaged to preach on a religious-themed cruise departing and ending in Singapore from November 25 to November 29.

Two days later, Johor barred both preachers from giving religious talks there, even though Malaysia’s federal government said it had no issues with the clerics’ conduct.

Even with one avenue cut off, there are other channels available for followers to access the teachings of various preachers, noted community leaders. Following the ban, a number of Mufti Menk’s Singaporean followers took to his Facebook page to express their disappointment. Some noted they could still access his teachings through mobile apps, podcasts as well as YouTube videos.

In response to TODAY’s queries, a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) spokesperson said preachers with divisive and extremist teachings will not be allowed in Singapore "regardless of the faith they represent”.

The authorities are studying ways to tighten the process to keep such preachers from entering Singapore to spread their teachings.

"Everyone has a part to play, to unequivocally reject and guard against divisive doctrines and preachers who propagate such doctrines,” said the MHA spokesperson.

The Internet has allowed people to hear from religious preachers, without having to be physically present at their lectures or sermons, said Dr Mohamed Ali, who is the vice-chairman of Religious Rehabilitation Group.

Even so, regulations on overseas trips conducted by mosques and private Islamic organisations for Singaporeans to attend lectures by foreign preachers could be considered, said Dr Mohamed, an assistant professor at the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies.

"I can see the importance of having such a system in place, where you need to get clearance before conducting such trips. But will it be effective or not, is another question,” he said.

A local religious teacher, who declined to be named, agreed it could be an additional solution to curb access to radical or exclusivist teachings.

"Perhaps, it would be wise for the authorities to study it. With the current environment we’re in, there is a need to explore all options and try to plug as many gaps as we can,” said the 34-year-old.

But even with regulations in place, there may be informal groups that will organise such trips, said Allaudin Mohamed, vice-chairman of Geylang Serai Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circle.

"The government cannot stop people if they want to go abroad,” added the 64-year-old.

On whether the ban could lead some members of the public to be even more curious about "forbidden fruit”, community and religious leaders felt it would generally not be the case.

"I don’t think there will be a ripple effect, such that with the ban, more people will listen to those preachers. At the moment, they already have a strong following, so people will just continue to listen to them,” said Dr Mohamed.

There could be some people — yet to be exposed to their teachings — who might be interested to find out more about the banned preachers, noted the religious teacher who did not want to be named.

Muis said it is "committed to ensuring that Islamic instruction and guidance for the Singaporean Muslim community is appropriate and consistent with the Singaporean context and the values of the Singaporean Muslim Identity”.

In late October, Singapore’s mufti Dr Mohamed Fatris Bakaram had called for Singaporean Muslims to exercise caution and have a critical and inquiring mind when coming across Islamic teachings online or when they travel for work, study or leisure.

Exclusivist teachings do not just concern Islam and Muslims but other religions as well, said Allaudin. Two foreign Christian preachers were recently denied entry here as they had made denigrating comments about other faiths.

"There shouldn’t be the impression that a certain group is being marginalised. I think the government is concerned about people from various religions who might compromise our culture of harmony,” added Allaudin. — TODAY