Home Affairs Minister’s explanation on terrorist escape
February 29, 2008
Latest from the Straits Times: Mas Selamat has fled to Indonesia: The Star. SINGAPORE‘S most wanted terror fugitive, Mas Selamat Kestari, who had worked with Malaysian Jemaah Islamiah members to carry out terrorist activities at one time, is believed to have fled for Indonesia.
Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng on the escape by Mas Selamat Kastari.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_nH8qjm7TQ]
“Escaped JI militant seen running up slope to Malcolm Park“
Straits Times
Breaking News: INTERPOL issues global alert for suspected terror leader
February 29, 2008
From INTERPOL’s website.
An urgent worldwide security alert, or Orange Notice, has been issued by INTERPOL after the escape of an alleged leader of the Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist group from a jail in Singapore.
Mas Selamat bin Kastari escaped from the Whitley Road Detention Centre on Wednesday 27 February where he was being held following his deportation from Indonesia to Singapore in February 2006.
Following a request from Singapore, INTERPOL issued the Orange Notice - which includes Kastari’s photograph and fingerprints, essential elements to help law enforcement officers in their search and eventual verification of his identity when located and arrested – to each of its 186 National Central Bureaus (NCBs).
Why a lapse of four hours before public was notified?
February 29, 2008
This is a letter by student Lee Weijia sent to the Straits Times Forum Page.
TOC thanks Weijia for allowing us to publish it here.
Dear Sir,
The escape of Mas Selamat, and the subsequent response to the escape, has raised many queries. However, I would just like to touch on one sore point that struck me immediately upon hearing the news.
Why was there a lapse of 4 hours between his escape and the notification to the public? Remember the area is surrounded by houses and schools.
I would like to quote Mr. Wong Kan Seng. During parliament, Mr Wong replied: “Our security agencies assessed at the time of Mas Selamat’s escape there was no imminent danger to the public. The focus then was to lock down the Whitley Road Dention Centre and then start a systematic operation to find and arrest him. The priority is to arrest him. No efforts will be spared to track him down.”
Bloggers’ reaction to JI leader’s escape
February 28, 2008
Unfortunately Singapore - JI Detainee Escapes: State Not Intrusive Enough?
“Minister Wong sure has some explaining to do. First of which is how a limping middle-aged man could escape from an ISD run facility?”
Pleinelune - Great, Now They’ll Start Checking My Shoes
“Do us all a favour, Selamat Kastari (what kind of a name is that, some kind of self-named holiday?), and get therapy. Talk through puppets or blow up aliens on a computer. Take up sky-diving. Go get laid. Why in the world do you need to kill other people in order to work through your personal issues?”
The Sidelined Student - JI Detainee escapes from Singapore Detention Centre.
“Singapore spends billions on security systems, yet people can smuggle guns out of army, and terrorist leaders can LIMP out of detention centres.”
Her Gestures - Mission Possible. JI detainee Mas Selamat Kastari escapes from Singapore detention centre.
“For god sake, open your damn bloody eyes and be vigilant. Thats your bloody job. A small mistake can ruin the whole face!”
Irrational Rationale – What A Joke!
“How the hell do you escape from so many officers with guns and according to their sources… HEAVILY GUARDED?!?! I don’t know if I should applause this man’s ability to escape or criticize the “guarding.”
Thoughts And Pieces – Escape of Selamat Kastari
“I wonder what’s the reason that detainee like a the terrorist is not given the same ‘nice’ and ‘careful’ treatment. Maybe to them, terrorist can’t run away from Singapore.”
Read more
“Limping Terorist” escapes - 10 questions for Wong Kan Seng
February 28, 2008
“Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng has cited a lapse in security at the Whitley Detention Centre on Wednesday as the cause for the escape of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) member Mas Selamat Kastari.”
1. Given that Mas Selamat Kastari was considered Singapore’s number one most wanted, how did such a “lapse” occur?
Government fees freeze doesn’t address real concerns
February 28, 2008
By Andrew Loh
It is interesting to note that the Finance Minister announced the extension of the freeze on government fees and charges only on the third day of the Budget debate – after criticisms of it not doing enough to alleviate Singaporeans’ concerns about inflation.
According to Channel NewsAsia (CNA), “the one-year freeze on government fees, which kicked in last July, will be extended till the end of 2008.”
Now, the natural question to ask would be, “What are these government fees which are being suspended?”
Bitter medicine prescription - with a little spin thrown in
February 26, 2008
Breaking News: Feb 27: Freeze on government fees extended till end of 2008. The one-year freeze on government fees which kicked in last July will be extended till the end of 2008. This will include fees charged on all government-provided services such as school fees, ITE and polytechnic fees, charges in public car parks, and all licence fees. (Channel NewsAsia)
By Andrew Loh
On 24th January, 2007, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the following, when justifying the increase of 2 per cent for the GST:
“Is it better to take your medicine sooner or stretch it out? Take medicine once or two times? I prefer to make (sic) my medicine early, why? This is something we need to do, once we have done it, we can move on; we have the resources to have the revenue from the GST that we use….” (Channel NewsAsia)
The PM was right in that the increase by 2 percentage points in the GST brought in the expected revenue for the government - $1.4 billion.
CPF Life - does it really address retirement needs?
February 26, 2008
I refer to the article “Income that stretches a lifetime, under new scheme” (BT, Feb 13).
Under the old CPF system, a minimum sum (MS) of $ 67,000 at age 55, at the old guaranteed interest rate of 4 per cent, can provide a monthly payout of $ 600, from age 65 to 85.
Under the proposed Lifelong Income scheme (LI), the extra 1 per cent interest on the average yield of the 10 year government bond plus 1 per cent, if assumed to average 5 per cent, will provide a monthly payout of about $610 (male) or $570 (female) for as long as one lives.
Using the same 5 per cent under the old scheme can provide $720 a month, for 20 years – which is more than the $610 or $570 one would get from the new LI scheme.
Homeless soon, thanks to HDB
February 25, 2008
By Selene Cheng
6.5 million people. That is the projected number of people our government believes Singapore can accommodate. Already, 80% of the population lives in subsidised housing, and with the development of estates in Sengkang and Punggol, no one will have to be a vagrant. No one will have to sleep under the void deck with aluminium cans for a pillow, or at the beach with the sky as their blanket.
Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. Being homeless in Singapore is a real possibility, as theonlinecitizen (TOC) has found out, and you don’t even need to be old and dirt poor in order to have no roof over your head.
In this special feature on home ownership in Singapore, theonlinecitizen tells the story of Andrew, a 34-year old young man who will soon be out of a home in 3 months because of the Housing and Development Board’s (HDB) lack of compassion and flexibility.
Reflections on Budget 2008
February 22, 2008
By Eric Tan Heng Chong
My parents taught me to be gracious when you receive a gift, and not to scrutinise it. This year Singaporeans received a ‘gift’ in the form of the Budget. There are many good things about the Budget for both individuals and corporations.
But despite what my parents taught me, I cannot help feeling that perhaps I must re-examine these gifts. My instincts tell me that the giver once took a lot from me and is now only returning some to me. I remember the increases in taxes and charges; these were permanent. The gifts to me now are one-off goodies.
I recognise that sometimes, for the greater good, I must suffer some loss. The taking, however, is becoming too much to bear, and the reasons given for it not good enough. It is time the government takes less and gives some back. I would suggest the following ways to do it:
