Muhammad Faizal is a Research Fellow with the Regional Security Architecture Programme, Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS) at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS). He holds a Master of Science (Strategic Studies) degree from RSIS, NTU and Bachelor of Business Administration (with Merit) from NUS. He has a research background in terrorism and geopolitical cyber threats. Prior to RSIS, he served many years in the Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs and National Security Coordination Secretariat where he headed teams in the roles of intelligence analysis, international relations, and national security analysis; achieving several commendation awards for operational and analysis efficiency. He graduated from the Singapore Police Force Command & Staff Course in 2009. He also served a stint in the Ministry of Communications and Information where he focused on the intersection of digital security and geopolitics. His current research interests include the implications of diplomatic, informational, military, and cyber issues on regional security; entwinement of technology and geopolitics in the Indo-Pacific security architecture; as well as information/influence operations’ and hybrid threats’ challenges on regionalism.

Faizal was also a regular resource person for international media such as MediaCorp on issues of terrorism, cyber threats, and influence/information operations; and had given lectures at conferences such as the Stockholm Security Conference 2017 and Security Industry Conference (SIC) 2018.

• Implications of Geopolitical Competition and Digital Technologies to Hybrid Threats
• Influence and Information Operations
• Strategic Foresight, Intelligence and Counterterrorism

Working Papers

• The Intersection of Emergent Technologies and Geopolitics: Implications for Singapore

  07 April, 2020

Policy Reports

• Countermeasures Against Foreign Interference

  17 April, 2020

• Cases of Foreign Interference in Asia

  26 March, 2020

• Countering Fake News: A Survey of Recent Global Initiatives

  07 March, 2018

• Fake News: National Security in the Post-Truth Era

  19 January, 2018

• Smart CCTVs for Secure Cities: Potential and Challenges

  15 August, 2017

RSIS Commentary Series

• How ASEAN’s Cybersecurity Push Could Protect People and Economies

  06 December, 2024

• Enhancing ASEAN Cooperation Against AI-Powered Cyber Influence Operations

  06 September, 2024

• Deepfakes and the Dangers to National Security and Defence

  23 July, 2024

• ASEAN MOVES TO STRENGTHEN DIGITAL DEFENCE COOPERATION

  24 July, 2023

• Pandemic, Technology and Privacy: How Far Will the State Go?

  12 June, 2020

• COVID-19: What Changes – and What Doesn’t

  17 April, 2020

• Breaking Byte of Religious Extremism

  05 September, 2019

• Defending Singapore Against Foreign Interference

  03 September, 2019

• Economic Warfare: Enduring Its Impact

  29 July, 2019

• CO17237 | Rogue Aquatic Drones

  18 December, 2017

• CO17235 | Smart Security: Balancing Effectiveness and Ethics

  14 December, 2017

• CO17182 | Chatbots: Friend or Fiend?

  03 October, 2017

• CO17178 | Abu Uqayl: Bringing the Threat Closer to Home

  28 September, 2017

• CO17139 | Law Enforcement: Security Challenges Ahead

  24 July, 2017

• CO17109 | Artificial Intelligence: Why It Won’t Displace Police Analysts

  01 June, 2017

• CO17034 | Securing the Vertical Space of Cities

  22 February, 2017

• CO16306 | Singapore’s Threat Outlook 2017: The Terrorist Challenge Ahead

  19 December, 2016

• CO16300 | Smart CCTVs: Third Eye of Secure Cities

  13 December, 2016

• CO16255 | Robocops: Securing the Cities of Tomorrow

  12 October, 2016

• CO16148 | SG Secure: Fathers As Potential Advocates

  16 June, 2016

• CO16147 | Security Drones: Is the Singapore Public Ready?

  15 June, 2016

• CO16138 | Threats of Driverless Vehicles: Leveraging New Technologies for Solutions

  07 June, 2016

Commemorative / Event Reports

• RSIS Webinar Series on "DRUMS: Distortions, Rumours, Untruths, Misinformation & Smears"

  08 April, 2021

• RSIS Workshop On Understanding And Countering Online Falsehoods And Influence Operations

  05 March, 2020

IDSS Papers

• IP25058 | Harnessing Emerging Technologies in Defence: Strategic Approach for ASEAN Unity

  09 May, 2025

• IP24087 | Role of ADMM/ADMM-Plus: Preparing ASEAN for an Era of Conflict

  24 October, 2024

• IP23064 | Defence Diplomacy in a Fragmented World

  13 September, 2023

• IP23001 | Advancing Cyber and Information Security Cooperation in ASEAN

  04 January, 2023

• IP22062 | US National Security Strategy and 20th CCP Congress: What They Mean for ASEAN Regional Security

  07 November, 2022

Journal Articles

• Muhammad Faizal Bin Abdul Rahman. “Protecting the Vertical Space of Cities: Perspectives for Singapore” (August 18, 2017). Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy Research Paper No. 17-19 . Accessed September 14, 2017. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3021622

Edited Books / Special Issues

• Fostering Innovation For Future Security Challenges (with Damien D. Cheong, Benjamin Ang, and Norman Vasu), Eds. Singapore: Interpol, 2017

Chapters in Edited Books

• “Digital Defence and ASEAN Political-Security Community” in Debasish Nandy and Monojit Das, Decoding the Chessboard of Asian Geopolitics: Asian Powerplay in East and Southeast Asia, The Global North, and Other Emerging Issues. Singapore: Palgrave Macmillan, 2025, pp. 91-118
• “ASEAN Digital Transformation and the US–China Technological Competition” (with Sarah Teo) in Bernard F.W. Loo and James Char (Eds.), Strategic Currents: China and US Competition for Influence. Singapore: World Scientific, 2024, pp. 67-90
• ““Smart Homes: Where Rogue AI and Robots could Impair Security”” in Majeed Khader, Whistine Xiau Ting Chai & Loo Seng Neo (Eds.), Introduction to Cyber Forensic Psychology: Understanding the Mind of the Cyber Deviant Perpetrators. Singapore: World Scientific Publishing, 2021, 309 – 331
• “Leveraging Smart Technology for Better Counter-Terrorism Intelligence by Muhammad Faizal Bin Abdul Rahman” in Majeed Khader, Neo Loo Seng, Jethro Tan, Damien D Cheong & Jeffrey Chin (Eds.), Learning from Violent Extremist Attacks: Behavioural Sciences Insights for Practitioners and Policymakers. Singapore: World Scientific Publishing , 2019, 73 – 98

Working Papers

• The Persistence of Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore, Modern Diplomacy, Greece, 19 July 2021
• The Role of Police and Military Special Forces in Counter-terrorism Efforts in Cities, Small Wars Journal, United States of America, 2 November 2019

Op-Eds

• “Are the Russians Eyeing West Papua for an Overseas Military Base?”, The Diplomat, 18 April 2025
• “Geopolitics meet Digital Security in ASEAN’s Maritime Domain”, Modern Diplomacy, 16 April 2025
• “Could US Defense Cuts Affect Timor-Leste?”, The Diplomat, 28 February 2025
• “New Zealand-Singapore Defense Relations in a Volatile World”, The Diplomat, 17 January 2025
• “How ASEAN’s Cybersecurity Push Could Protect People and Economies”, The Diplomat, 18 November 2024
• “Future of Cyber in Southeast Asia: Reflection on ASEAN Cyber Agenda across Different Pillars”, Analysis of 2024 ASEAN and Related Summits and Outlook for 2025: CSIS Special Edition Commentaries, 1 November 2024
• “The Cyberspace Impact of a Maritime Crisis in Southeast Asia”, The Diplomat, 10 August 2024
• “ASEAN Centrality in Regional Security Faces Growing Uncertainties”, The Jakarta Post, 18 July 2024. Republished in The Philippine Daily Inquirer
• “ASEAN Should Watch the China-US Cyber Competition More Closely”, The Diplomat, 14 May 2024
• “Defence and Strategic Implications of Energy Security Trends”, Modern Diplomacy, 3 May 2024
• “Southeast Asia’s three-nation partnership to fight cyber threats”, 360info.org, 6 March 2024. Republished in The Mandarin, Tatler Asia, East Mojo and Big News Network
• “The Role of Singapore, Malaysia and Australia in ASEAN Centrality”, The Interpreter, 7 February 2024
• “Managing power conflict spillover in Straits of Malacca and Singapore” (with Abdul Rahman Yaacob), The Jakarta Post, 6 November 2023
• “ASEAN Needs a Repatriation Plan for a Taiwan Contingency” (with Abdul Rahman Yaacob), The Diplomat, 8 July 2023
• “At SLD 2023, ASEAN Defense Officials Must Tackle Tech Issues”, The Diplomat, 25 May 2023
• “AUKUS Pillar II and relations between Australia and ASEAN”, The Jakarta Post, 10 May 2023
• “The Quad’s Public Goods Approach: Countering the BRI”, 9DASHLINE, 23 March 2023
• “The Next Cyber Phase of the Russia-Ukraine War Will Echo in Asia”, The Diplomat, 11 February 2023
• “Enhancing ASEAN-EU Cooperation in Non-Traditional Security”, Modern Diplomacy, 17 December 2022
• “China’s SCO Diplomacy: Creating a Parallel World Order?” (with Tsjeng Zhizhao Henrick), The Politburo, 23 November 2022
• “Can NATO Counter China’s Influence In APAC?”, The ASEAN Post, 28 August 2021
• “Singapore’s Home-Grown Terrorists”, The ASEAN Post, 22 March 2021
• “3D-Printed Gun Laws: Girding for the Future of Terrorism”, Global Network on Extremism and Technology (GNET) Insights, 28 January 2021
• “Someone to Watch Over Me: Trusting Surveillance in Singapore’s ‘Smart Nation’” (with Teo Yi-Ling), The Diplomat, 26 January 2021
• “Why Data, Including Those From TraceTogether, Is Vital in Policing and Keeping Singapore Safe”, TODAY, 6 January 2021
• “Combatting Terrorism Amid The Pandemic”, The ASEAN POST, 12 December 2020
• “Impact Of US-China Technationalism On ASEAN” (with Dymples Leong), The ASEAN POST, 7 November 2020
• “Is the US-China Competition a “Good versus Evil” Struggle?”, The Politburo, 1 September 2020
• “COVID-19 and Future of Cyber Conflict”, The Diplomat, 17 July 2020
• “Singapore Decides on 5G Networks: Is Huawei Banned?”, The Diplomat, 2 July 2020
• “Robots Can Deliver Smart Policing In The Post COVID-19 Reality”, SmartCitiesWorld, 22 June 2020
• “COVID-19 and the Acceleration of State Surveillance”, Lowy Interpreter, 14 May 2020
• “The Asia-Pacific’s Huawei Conundrum” (with Russell Huang), The Diplomat, 12 March 2020
• “Singapore well-placed to tackle security threats in 2020, but the dark side looms”, Today, 1 January 2020
• “Strategizing Countermeasures Against Foreign Interference in Singapore”, International Policy Digest, 5 October 2019
• “Protecting Singapore’s Social Harmony: The Value of Reconciliation” (with Remy Mahzam), APPS Policy Forum, 4 October 2019
• “Foreign Influence Ops are a Reality, but Singaporeans Shouldn’t Overreact”, The Straits Times, 25 July 2019
• “Foreign Influence in Singapore: Old Threats in New Forms”, The Diplomat, 23 July 2019
• “What 700 Years of History Tell us About the SAF Today”, The Straits Times, 3 July 2019
• “Muhammad Faizal Bin Abdul Rahman. “Prosecuting Islamic State Foreign Fighters: Issues and Implications”, Eurasia Review, June 3, 2019”, Eurasia Review, 3 June 2019
• “Muhammad Faizal Bin Abdul Rahman. “Terror threat: Why Singaporeans should care”. TODAY Online, January, 29, 2019.”, TODAY, 29 January 2019
• “Critical Thinking, A Needed Nutrition to Resist the Virus of Falsehoods”, Channel News Asia, 29 September 2018
• “Countering ‘Smart’ Terrorists Who Use Online Gaming Platforms”, International Policy Digest, 15 August 2018
• “Space Insecurity: Implications for Non-Spacefaring States”, International Policy Digest, 15 July 2018
• “Malaysian election result puts Singapore’s security at a crossroads”, East Asia Forum, 15 July 2018
• “Why The Trump-Kim Summit Matters To The Average Singaporean”, Eurasia Review, 12 June 2018
• “Commentary: Blurred Lines and New Means – Terrorism’s Alarming New Dimensions”, Channel News Asia, 4 June 2018
• “Islamophobia: A Thorn in Humanity’s Flesh”, Eurasia Review, 24 March 2018
• “Smart Prisons Protect The Public And Rebuild Lives” (with V S Suguna), Eurasia Review, 6 March 2018
• Remy Mahzam and Muhammad Faizal Bin Abdul Rahman. “Commentary: Radicalisation not a threat that can be flushed out”, Channel News Asia, January 6, 2018, Accessed January 8, 2018. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/commentary-radicalisation-not-a-threat-that-can-be-flushed-out-9835408
  
• Muhammad Faizal Bin Abdul Rahman. “Bracing communities for returning foreign fighters”, Online Opinion, October 25, 2016. Accessed October 25, 2016. http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=18605
• Muhammad Faizal Bin Abdul Rahman. “Sharpening defences against the blade of terrorism”, Online Opinion, October 12, 2016. Accessed October 18, 2016. http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=18578
  

• Speaker, Session 4 on “Social Media, Gaming, Radicalisation, and Cybersecurity”, Regional Conference on Cybersecurity and the Role of Information Technology in Fostering a Culture of Peace in ASEAN by the ASEAN Institute for Peace and Reconciliation (ASEAN-IPR), 24-26 February 2025.
• Guest Speaker, “Information Operations in Singapore”, Interactive Workshop on Persuasive Technologies and National Resilience by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI), 10 February 2025
• Panelist, Panel Discussion on “International Security”, Preparatory Model United Nations (PREPMUN Singapore), 10 December 2024.
• Speaker, Session 2 on “The Role of ASEAN and the ASEAN-led Regional Architecture in Preventing and Managing Conflict” and Session 4 on “Conflict Scenarios”, Track 1.5 Workshop on Conflict Prevention, Crisis Management and the ASEAN-Led Regional Architecture by The Asia Foundation with support from Australia Government, Malaysia Government and ASEAN, 6 December 2024.
• Guest Speaker, “Navigating Geopolitics in Asia amidst the rising tide of Misinformation and Disinformation”, 2024 Asian Fact-Checkers Network Conference by Black Dot Research and Australian Strategic Policy Institute, 23-24 May 2024.
• Panellist, Session 4 on “Establishing Common Norms and Principles”, Asia Dialogue on China-US Relations: The China-US Relationship and Implications for Regional Stability in the Asia-Pacific by Asia-Pacific Leadership Network (APLN), 9-10 May 2024.
• Guest Speaker, “Rivalry and International Cooperation in the Age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution”, RSIS-PfPC Conference by RSIS and the Project for Peaceful Competition at King’s College London, 16 February 2024.
• Panellist, “Clash of Visions in the Indo-Pacific”, IAS Flagship Conference by Singapore Institute of Management International Affairs Society, 7 February 2024.
• Lecturer, “Singapore’s National Defence Strategy, ASEAN and Regional Security”, Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies, National University of Timor Leste (UNTL), 21 November 2023.
• Guest Speaker, “Key Takeaways from the 56th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting: Reasserting ASEAN Unity?”, Talking ASEAN Webinar by The Habibie Center, 20 July 2023.
• Panellist, Session 2 on “EU-ASEAN Strategic Partnership: Opportunities and Challenges”, International Symposium on EU-ASEAN at 45: From Dialogue Partnership to Strategic Partnership by Centre for ASEAN Regionalism Universiti Malaya (CARUM) and Asia-Europe Institute (AEI), Universiti Malaya, 7 Dec 2022.
• Lecturer, “An ASEAN Perspective on NATO and European Security Interests in the Indo-Pacific”, 30th Strategic Planning and Analysis Seminar (SPAS) on NATO and European Security and Defence Architecture by Geneva Centre for Security Policy (GCSP), 25 Nov 2022.
• Presenter, Workshop on “Strengthening Border Management Cooperation in ASEAN”, Network of ASEAN Defence and Security Institutions (NADI), 23 Nov 2022.
• Chair, “Big Corporations and the Future of the Internet”, CENS Workshop on DRUMS 2022: Security in a Post Truth World by the Centre of Excellence for National Security (CENS), RSIS, 3 Nov 2022.
• Lecturer, “Disinformation and Fake News: Implications for the Home Team”, Home Team Senior Command and Staff Course by the Home Team Academy, 06 October 2021.
• Panellist, KAS YESA Forum: “NATO and the Indo-Pacific: Challenges and Opportunities for Regional Engagement” by Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, 29 September 2021.
• Panellist, Open Panel Discussion on “Afghanistan: Global Security Implications” by Counter Terrorism Certification Board, 14 September 2021.
• Panellist, Closed-Door Roundtable on “Expert Panel on Chinese Influence in Europe” by NATO Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence, 2 June 2021.
• Panellist, “CAIDG Showcase Session 1: Tracing Community Disquiet in the Age of COVID-19” Webinar by Singapore Management University – Centre for AI and Data Governance, 19 February 2021.
• Guest Speaker, “Future of Cyber Resilience” Roundtable by GovInsider, 3 December 2020.
• Panellist, Virtual Consultations on “Global Implications of Terrorist Travel in the Southeast Asia Maritime Domain” by Global Counter-Terrorism Forum (GCTF), 19 November 2020.
• Panellist, “What Is Really Happening on the Field – Tackling Modern Crimes”, APAC Connect Virtual Summit 2020: Digital Intelligence and the Future of Investigations by Cellebrite, 3 November 2020.
• Guest Speaker, “Singapore’s Security Outlook in the Post-COVID World”, SAF Day 2020 Webinar by S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, 30 July 2020.
• Guest Speaker, “Ending the COVID-19 Lockdown: Achieving Sustainable, Effective and Comprehensive Contact Tracing” Webinar by Cellebrite, 9 June 2020.
• Guest Speaker, Fireside Chat Panel Discussion on “Online Radicalisation: A Real Cause for Concern for Singapore?” by INSPIRIT National Youth Council, Singapore, 19 February 2020.
• Guest Speaker, Home Team Research Community-of-Practice Forum on “Hybrid Threats/Warfare” by Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), 29 November 2019.
• Guest Speaker, Seminar on “Behavioural Insights Behind Threats on the Cyber Frontier” by Singapore Home Team Behavioural Sciences Centre (HTBSC), 16 October 2019.
• Panellist, RSIS-SWP Dialogue 2019 on “Maintaining Strategic Autonomy in Times of Tectonic Shifts in Global Affairs” by S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies and German Institute for International and Security Affairs, 30 August 2019.
• Guest Speaker, Security Industry Conference (SIC) 2018 on “The Future of Security: A Fiction or Reality” by Security Industry Institute (SII), Temasek Polytechnic, 3 October 2018.
• Panellist, Stockholm Security Conference: Secure Cities in an Insecure World on “Artificial Intelligence For Law Enforcement: Opportunities and Challenges” by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), 15 September 2017.
• Panellist, Conference on Smart Cities: Which Visions and Models for the 21st Century on “Urban Security Multiple Challenges” by Le Monde, 2 June 2017.