If JL leader can escape, anything can happen in Singapore

[eddy planer]

Hi folks,

So far, no govt official has come forth to explain how this has happened.

I think they are thinking right now how to explain to the population in tomorrow's news...I hope the reporters grill the people responsible for this "crime against humanity"...we need some answers...

Nothing was even mentioned of where he was last seen...or where he might be lurking...

Totally unacceptable ... there will be a public uproar and more repercussions if the police does not bring this man to justice again...

Should not someone take responsibility for his escape?

The honorable thing to do is to resign and allow someone else more capable of taking the job overseeing our country's security.

Simply feel disgusted that the the person can just escape in front of our nose. Why all the checks at the checkpoint and at the airports when we cannot keep one in?

Come, come - will those who are paid handsomely come out and take responsibility and step down?

agree?

[jwuog]

Agree, yes those higher up and paid handsomely should step down.

But I can guarantee you some lower down is going to DB and probably condemned,
never to be promoted.

[eddy planer]

hi folks,

The costs of extra personnels used to track him down in manhunts and border checks resulting in delays of vechicles and burdens of waiting are the results of negligent prison detention centre. How can anyone imagine the real costs to all taxpayers and extra worries because of this escape!

The costs of millions of dollars if he had escaped and made his way to Indonesia or Malaysia to plan another attacks will be disastrous.Imagine the boost to JI terrorists when they hear of his successful escape from Singapore.

The delays at the borders are already affecting hundreds of thousands and is why the Security lapse must never be allowed. Surely such a detention cannot be so loosely designed and so close to schools and residences!

May we should ask Scotland Yard , FBI and CIA to send in their experts should the police fail to catch him. I do hope he is still here and will be nabbed soon...

The reputation and social costs are high if he allowed to plan more attacks.

And surely expect to pay more taxes to improve our security tomorrow.We are the one who suffer most.

agree?

[vinz]

Hmmm... we're reviewing whether we should allow this discussion to continue. this thread is being monitored. This is after all an aquarium forum and we prefer to keep polarising topics out.

Meanwhile, please remember to write responsibly and accountably.

[eddy planer]

Hi Vince,

Hmmm I thought this discussion of this thread isnt has any politics remarks, just discuss the concern of what happen next.

If this thread isnt benefit, so you may close or shut down it without any worry.

[benny]

I thought I heard the spokesman giving an explanation of the course of events leading to the escape on the radio. Apparently, the detainee escaped when he went to the toilet just before the family visit.

In any case, I am in agreement with a lot of eddy's points. It's indeed regrettable that something like that can happen in 'efficient' Singapore. Let's see how the authorities handle this and be accountable to the citizens they claims to serve.

Cheers,

[zyblack]

Hi folks,

So far, no govt official has come forth to explain how this has happened.

I think they are thinking right now how to explain to the population in tomorrow's news...I hope the reporters grill the people responsible for this "crime against humanity"...we need some answers...

Nothing was even mentioned of where he was last seen...or where he might be lurking...

Totally unacceptable ... there will be a public uproar and more repercussions if the police does not bring this man to justice again...

Should not someone take responsibility for his escape?

The honorable thing to do is to resign and allow someone else more capable of taking the job overseeing our country's security.

Simply feel disgusted that the the person can just escape in front of our nose. Why all the checks at the checkpoint and at the airports when we cannot keep one in?

Come, come - will those who are paid handsomely come out and take responsibility and step down?

agree?

The term "honour" may mean different things to different people. My concept of "honour" is to be accountable for your mistakes and make amends to prevent future occurrence. It is actually easier for him to step down and maybe quit the public sector to find another job in the private sector. He probably have no lack of offers. But I prefer he stick to his position and make up for his mistake.

For a person holding his portfolio it is no easy task. There are so many things that can go drastically wrong every single moment.

The analogy I can think of is of a planted tank enthusiast fighting algae. No matter how hard you try, how strict your fertilizer regime, how exact your planned the lighting period, how meticulously you controlled the CO2 output or how vigorously you pluck away at algae...that algae problem will still pop now and than despite your courageous attempts to keep it away.

If I have algae in my tank...should I quit my hobby?

[iwishweallcouldwin]

I pity the NSFs who are activated to aid in the islandwide comb... lots of my friends have been called back and their offs cancelled... mas selamat is ji-trained... doubt he'll be found that easily... besides, Singapore say big not big, say small also not small...

Read in the news that many civilians, especially in schools (shall not name names) have voiced concerns about the dominant presence of many soldiers situated near their kids, hence making them feel uncomfortable. but i think if i ever see any of the soldiers, i will not hesitate to at least thank and encourage them for their efforts in trying to make singapore a safer place. its a small part, and not everyone is that enthusiastic about their job, as after all, they're all conscripts.

It is beyond the shadow of a doubt that the public's concerns are indeed very valid, but its times like these that i believe every singaporean should remain united and focused on the goal at hand - bringing justice to mas selamat.

think this tme SAF really must work extra hard to ensure the safety of our homeland... lets hope together that justice will be served and those with a warped and perverted mindset will not be able to try anything funny in Singapore!

and by the way, just a disclaimer, i am in no way affiliated to the SAF or any government body...

[eddy planer]

I find it funny that the government and press keep reporting that all check-points have increased their security, even put on bullet proof vest. If he is un-armed, why the bullet-proof vest ???

Being one going through hard life, and being a limp, he will move more naturally in water. He will probably try to swim across to JB, at night since it is hard to spot, and he really have nothing to loose - dead or alive, is as bad a situation.

So, probably people in the vicinity of beaches ought to be vigilant, if he had found a way to get that far or ....

He will disguise as an older man or a woman and take his friends/relatives/fake passports like he had in Indonesia to escape if he dares to leave via the borders.

The notion of his escape is well-planned and obviously not a sudden one indeed. Many of the JIs are well organised as they managed to remain fugitives in hiding and look at the bomb maker in Indonesia who still escape the Police.

If anything learnt in this painful lesson - negligence of the guards and they should be demoted and sacked. Obviously the detention location is also unsecured if a fugitive can escape.

The Detention officers should be investigated if they had been negligent or in cahoots with the terrorists being Malay sympathisers a plenty in Indonesia and Malaysia. The way he escaped the manhunt is also a sign of negligence if it had taken 4 hours for the news to break.

The only face saving - arrest to be made if he is still here.

The places he can escape to are Malaysia being the closer boundaries and swim to Batam (which is unlikely). He could disguise humself and make his way to Indonesia.

[zoombee]

the strange fact about this article is that everyone is trying to find out why he can escape and how he escape.

i think the other way round. it is almost impossible to escape from detention for normal criminal let alone be a high risk one like a terrorist. Singapore is "kiasu" enough to setup the highest security available to make sure he is intact otherwise the reputation is at risk.

I think there is a possibility (like i mentioned again "I THINK") that he might have died while being "interogated" or committed suicide and they cannot find a proper excuse to answer to the public so they announced he escaped. could it be possible?

I am not trying to propagate the situation here..just a thought only from the dark side.

[BFG]

Demotion will not go down well with the public. This is a serious misjudgement on the part of the staff on duty. Large resources are being used to find 1 single man, the entire island has been alerted with his escaped. On top of that, a global alert has been activated by our government to the international force to be on the lookout for this man which has made threat to do harm to the island before. Manpower has been increased at checkpoint and I believe more patrols will be made along the border of this island.

As a member of the public, the important thing to take note of is the capture of this fugitive. Whatever happen to the staff on duty at the detention bay is the least of our worries. The rammification should this fugitive is not captured is high, very high in fact. We knew this is a trained person who could do harm. Not only physically but he could be the wedge that break the bond that has taken years to build on this island between multi races.

What can you do to help? Be alert and keep a copy of his description in your pocket. Don't stay at home but travel and keep a lookout. Should you decide to travel to those ulu area like a fish farm or what not, be alert to something that is out of the ordinary, like a person walking alone along the road. Be very sure you have the right description before making the call to the authority and let them handle the situation after you report to them. There's a person in the news that claim he was the escaped detainee. I'm sure he'd got a free stay in a government chalet. Resources are spread around this island and the extra pair of eyes watching around might help. This is not the time to say it's not my problem. Every bit helps make a difference.

[eddy planer]

Hi folks

I do not see Mr Wong Kan Seng-Deputy Prime Minister should step down( which strongly demand by some public uproar)-amidst the unusual "security lapse" the eclipse the supposingly "security serious" stand singapore government advocates.

But with days passing by, & with not more than any clue, other than just two photos of Mas Selamat's bearded & clean shaven images, very little progress has been made that would lead to the recapturing of fugitive Mas Selamat.

If the JI leader is not captured say in a fortnight time, or worst still, manage to pull the carpet under the imposing tight security the authorities have been combing island-wide, and make an audacious art of escape and reach Indonesia, that would tarnish Singapore's image as safe & secure in the civic mind of many.

If Mas Selamat does slip out of the island state, then perhaps more pressure would mount with perhaps, impending resignation of Mr Wong Kan Seng.

Mr Wong has appealed to the members of parliament not to speculate the outcome on how Mas Selamat escapes or with whom the accomplice would be, but is inevitable that people's mind would start to think and percieve what could have been, or if this would have done to prevent this.

But to happen so soon just a week after Singapore's victoriously ganing the trust and vindication of IOC to host the Youth Olympic-and is an irony that one of the criteria for winning the bid is the percieve reputable and worthy security measure the international community has impression of Singapore-which has boasted to be, and this is a hammer blow.

Now with INTERPOL putting the fugitive photos over 180 countries, the international community must be looking at Singapore with different view. Singapore would be under the scrutinity and focal of attention would be assessing how soon would Mas Selamat be arrested.

Perhaps the authority, with a view from Dr Rohan Gurutna's recent assessment of the situation (as reported in the media), Dr Rohan's an expert in terrorism and political violence, he is very certain that Mas selamat is still at large but still in hiding in Singapore-albeit waiting for the slightest opportunity to sneak out to Indonesia.

I would think that the authorities might take this following measure-channel most of its resources or personna focus within a perimeter where Mas selamat is likely hiding, streamline its elite force to zoom-in, do a wait-and strike method. The longer Mas selamat waits, the longer his body might cave in to hunger or thirst that would cripple his physical and mental aspect.

It would be energy draining to do a cat and mouse chase-unless the authority is 100% sure the area the fugitive is having cover.

ANother would be having plain cloth officers to keep an eye of all possible contacts kastari would make, of course, undue pressure would be on his family members-expect to be interrogated regularly to get the slightest clues where Mas selamat might be.

One unconventional method would be, do another house-to-house search-with search warrant obtained from authority, check thru all the bungalows and units of condos in Malcolm road, Mt pleasant areas etc.

This area has sprawling landed properties, and a large expatraite community reside around here, and perhaps, most are always out of Singapore, hence their maids (especially Indonesian ones) could be potential suspects of harboring the fugitive (not that these maids are his accomplice, but Mas Selamat would be too knowledgeable and culturally incline to bluff and con his way to psycho the maids into shelering him-the maids are likely to believe him anyway-whatever stories he might cook up to make the maids trust in him to provide food & liquid)-in fact, I have a strong feeling that Mas selamat is hiding in one of the big houses with an indonesian maid-do a wait and see strategy, when the right time comes, he would escape.

Let's hope Mas Selamt could be arrested sooner than later, if not, do not be surprise that pressure from higher above would make him resign for good.

agree?

[timebomb]

It's a major screw-up, no doubt but to describe it as "a crime against humanity" is a bit of an over exaggeration, don't you think, Eddy? If there's a "crime against humanity" in this episode, it would be that our government locks up people without giving them the chance of a fair trial.

But to say it's like having algae in your tank is also an understatement. If we have to compare this with our hobby, a better analogy would be: Someone gives you a prized Arowana. You are told it's a very expensive fish and that Arowana's are known to be "jumpers". You are advised to keep the tank covered at all times and to weigh down the cover with something heavy. You choose to either ignore the advise or you were simply careless. Whatever, the fish jumps out of the tank and dies. So is this a major screw-up or not? Should you shoulder the blame?

Let's not forget this is not the first time something like that has happened. They also let Ah Hao escaped, you know. Despite being escorted by 4 detectives, Ah Hao was able to give them the slip and run back to his hometown in Malaysia. He used the same old trick, about having to use the toilet. You would imagine the police force should have learnt their lesson then, right?

If you ask me, the minister should resign. And this has got nothing to do with his salary. That's besides the point although it makes us all even more angry to know that, despite his incompetence, he makes millions of dollars. Even if his salary is low, he should still do the honourable thing and step down from his post. You cannot say he cannot answer for everything. He must. It's like being the captain of a ship. Anything goes wrong with the ship, it's the captain's fault. He can't pin the blame on his crew.

Loh K L

[BFG]

I would think that the crew must be held responsible and the captain must stay in his bridge for now. Although this is a huge hoo-haa, it is still not enough for the captain to step down. Reason being-( in my opinion )

If a chef on board a ship damaged his cooking equipment, through a fire or something similar, he should step down as he should know how to handle his equipment in the 1st place. The captain would accept the chef resignation or will terminate the chef if he doesn't do so as Chef are trained on how to use the kitchen equipment right? This is similar to what had taken place in the detention center. The entire line of staff on duty from the barrack commander to the person that was suppose to watch over the suspect to the person screening the visitor exiting the compound must be held responsible.

But if the chef onboard damaged his kitchen and cause extensive damaged which cause the ship to be unoperational or worst sink, then the captain will have to be accountable. This is because he is in charge of the whole ship and should know the inside of the ship operational requirement as well as to create and provide additional steps and procedure for the well being of the ship and it's crew as well as the paid traveller onboard. He should anticipate what might happen and should take the required steps to prevent that from happening and to have additional plan on how to tackle the situation if it arises. This is akin to having the island experiencing from a disaster of a large scale whereby a large number of the population need help from the said current governing body but the leader was not aware of the situation, kind of like what happened in the US when hurricane Katrina came by.

Just my 2 cents.

[planted86]

IMHO, if he step down now, he will be very irresponsible...

[BFG]

I agree. There is also a danger if the replacement could not be as good or even better than the current leader. If a disaster struck while the replacement was just adjusting to the new post, guess who will suffer, the people of course! The buck hasn't reach to him yet. The departmental head should take up responsibility as well as the other supervisory position and the staff on duty. No point retaining them and risk another similar mistake especially by the same person again.

[bryan]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080303...t_080303205603

Oh look, we're on AFP.

[luenny]

I agree. There is also a danger if the replacement could not be as good or even better than the current leader. If a disaster struck while the replacement was just adjusting to the new post, guess who will suffer, the people of course!

Same thing can be said about replacing the departmental head and the other supervisory staff on duty! So all cannot be replace.

The departmental head should take up responsibility as well as the other supervisory position and the staff on duty. No point retaining them and risk another similar mistake especially by the same person again.

And for this point, same thing can be said about the minister. So replace all.

Now I'm confuse!

[wynx]

Well, guys...been a week since he escaped..I still have many doubts like how did he managed to escape from a place like the Whitley Road Detention Camp...it has to be one of the most secured place in Singapore...

But one thing that I am quite sure, call me pessimistic. I am sure that He won't be caught for sure...

[Ah_ZhaN]

AFP: Singapore gov' butt of jokes after prison escape


Wikipedia: Mas Selamat bin Kastari
I am quite shock to see that he appeared on Wikipedia so quickly. He is almost becoming a celebrity~!


asiaonenews: Jakarta: He won't be deported to S'pore
Looks like Indonesia is losing faith in our country's security.