Here in the Lion City, Singaporeans got a rude shock when news reported that Mas Selamat bin Kastari, the leader of Singapore's wing of the Islamic militant network Jemaah Islamiah (JI), has escaped from police detention.
Wong Kan Seng, Singapore's minister for home affairs, reported that Kastari escaped from the toilet of a police detention facility on Wednesday afternoon in a "security lapse that should have never happened". Thousands of policemen were deployed in a massive hunt for Kastari, who was thought to have escaped unarmed. The JI leader was arrested by the Indonesian police in January 2006 and deported back to Singapore. He had since been held under Singapore's Internal Security Act ever since.
And...that's it. That's all the news Singaporeans have. A dangerous man escaped from jail, is free in Singapore, and that's all the news we have. If this escape has happened in Indonesia, there would be wall-to-wall almost gleeful articles in the Strait Times, but because this was in 'safe' Singapore, there had been almost no news at all.
Look, I don't care how bad it will make Singapore look but when a leader of JI escape in Singapore from the police; I want more news and information than "should have never happened" and "everything is being done to find him". How about answering some questions like how did Kastari escape from the toliet and more importantly; if the police still believe he is in Singapore?
I don't really care about how bad this will make the government look, but I would like some answers please.
11 comments:
A thorough investigation would probably take 2 years, by which time, you would have forgotten your question...
Ha. Sad but oh so true
What we have learnt and should always remember are that the JI operatives are extremely dedicated and deadly disciples of Osama Bin Ladin. This particular JI operative was forged from the fires of Afghanistan and perhaps the most intelligent and cunning amongst the organisation. How else could he be their leader! That he has escaped is an indication of how dangerous JI operatives truly are. In my view, it is not the fault of our security forces. It is easy with the benefit of hindsight to criticise but bear in mind that even the CIA and the FBI could not prevent 9-11. Even the British M15 could not prevent the London bombings. We should rally behind and support our security forces and not undermine them.
I agree that no one is prefect. It might very well not be our security forces' fault and we should support our security forces. But then, it may very well be their fault also. How would Singaporeans know when we haven't been told anything?
"..but bear in mind that even the CIA and the FBI could not prevent 9-11. Even the British M15 could not prevent the London bombings." erh. erh.. the operative word is 'prevent' and here we actually HAD the guy in Detention and let him escape and I think now the worry is, he will indeed do something?
There is no point in finger pointing....The next few days are all eyes on sg govt...how they deal with wqill be important...home minster had said there is security lapse...meaning the normal protocol was not put in practice..i have feeling lot of heads will roll from the ISD....we must try capture him ALIVE...so we can understand more better how he did it...furthermore,killing him will create a back-lash within muslim community and muslim nations surronding us...i seriously doubt the msians are sincere in assisting sg....when i went to JB yesterday,the msian immigration officers were jocking about how easy to escape from ISD..well,the point is this guy,a terroist had just broke 40 decaded iron curtain of the ISD has a impregnable force...i am sure we have not the heard the last of mas selamat...
ALERT: NL is going through the S'pore Daily, copy & paste the same old stuff everybody in the list. NL is a member of YPAP, he is doing his rounds.
http://www.youngpap.org.sg/abtus_execommittee.shtml
I'm afraid I have to disagree with you on the Malaysians. There's no reason to doubt the Malaysians; afterall it's in their interest to catch the man as well. As for their immigration officers laughing at us; didn't Singapore did the same thing to them and the Indonesians for their "lax security" just a few years ago? What goes around comes around.
As for NL being a member of YPAP; cool. Just because you are a member of YPAP doesn't mean you can't comment right?
"there had been almost no news at all"
Oh please. There have been 3-4 pages of full-page coverage every day in the ST since it happened.
The 3-4 pages of coverage in the ST has been on what's being done to catch him. Anyone has info on how the guy escape outside 'going to the toilet'? Don't tell me you are happy with that explaination?
Now this is a nice laugh.
If a offender for whatever crime got caught and detained.
Ask for a Toilet break ;) ;)
The guard will automatically fall into a trance and making escape easy.
Not to mention that it is in a detention centre.
PS holding the guard on duty responsible will only encourage the tops to relak and think they are not accountable.
Hint : Pay cut,Pay cut,Pay cut.
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