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

Logo of the Internal Security Department

The Internal Security Department (Abbreviation: ISD; simplified Chinese: 新加坡内部安全局; pinyin: Xīnjiāpōnèibùānquánjú) is a domestic intelligence agency of the Ministry of Home Affairs of Singapore. It was formerly part of the Ministry of Interior and Defence until it was split on 11 August 1970. It has the upmost right to detain without trial individuals suspected to be a threat to national security.

The stated mission is to confront and address security threats, including international terrorism, foreign subversion and espionage. The ISD also monitors and addresses potential threats from communism, prevention of racial tension which might affect the public peace, domestic counterterrorism, international counterterrorism, fraud against the state, surveillance, apprehension of suspected militants or terrorists and protection of Singapore's national borders.

[edit] Legislation

The powers of investigation and arrest of the ISD are regulated by several laws, including

[edit] 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 joined the Malayan Federation. After Singapore gained independence, Internal Security Department was formally established on 17 February 1966.

[edit] Timeline

See also: Timeline of Singaporean history

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

1950, Maria Hertogh riots
1963, arrest of left-wing politicians and trade unionists during Operation Coldstore
1964, 21 July - 8 September, Chinese-Malay riots, took place on Prophet Muhammad's birthday
1965, 10 March, MacDonald House bombing by Indonesian saboteurs killed 3 people, during the konfrontasi period
1966, arrest of 22 members of Barisan Sosialis.
1969, communal clashes spillover from May 13 Ethnic Riots - Malaysia
1974, 31 January, Laju incident, Japanese Red Army bombed petroleum tanks at Pulau Bukom and hijacked a ferry boat
1982, uncovered Singapore People's Liberation Organisation activities
1982, two Russian spies exposed for espionage activities
1985, local network of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam uncovered
1987, arrest of 22 alleged pro-Marxist activists during Operation Spectrum
1991, four Pakistanis hijacked Singapore Airlines Flight 117
1997, 1998, six arrested for involvement in espionage and foreign subversive activities
2001, 9 December, members of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) arrested for bomb plot [1]
2008, 27 February, Mas Selamat bin Kastari, alleged leader of JI's Singapore branch, escaped while in ISD's custody.
2009, 1 April, With the information provided from the Internal Security Department, the Malaysian Authorities managed to capture Mas Selamat in Skudai, Johor.