Article — Credit: The Straits Times (28 Oct 2025)
A dormitory managing director, Abdus Sattar, was fined $7,000 after a foreigner with alleged terror links preached to hundreds of migrant workers at a National Day event in 2024. The dorm operator, SBM Electrical & Automation, which runs Lantana Lodge in Tuas, was also fined $20,000 for failing to keep proper visitor records.
Sattar had invited Bangladeshi national Amir Hamza, who was previously arrested in Bangladesh for suspected involvement with a pro–Al-Qaeda terrorist organisation, to deliver a sermon and conduct prayers at the dormitory. During the event, Amir allegedly expressed ill-will toward people who did not share his political or religious views, raising concerns about extremism and radicalisation.
About 600 migrant workers attended the gathering, which included religious songs and a sermon lasting nearly half an hour. Authorities later determined that no permits or entertainment licences had been obtained for the event.
Deputy Public Prosecutor Sheldon Lim said the case highlighted the importance of safeguarding Singapore’s multicultural harmony, warning that reckless actions like this could endanger social cohesion. Defence lawyer Akram Khaira said Sattar was remorseful, claiming his intention had been to organise a spiritual session for staff.
The Ministry of Home Affairs later confirmed that Amir had entered Singapore using a passport under a different name, escaping initial detection. Minister K. Shanmugam told Parliament that Amir’s sermon propagated extremist and segregationist views, referring to non-Muslims as kafirs and glorifying radicals as pious examples.
Authorities emphasised the need for continued vigilance and careful vetting of foreign speakers to protect Singapore’s religious and communal harmony.
