It is really possible that Mas is far away now – Pakistan or beyond; in which case it will be very difficult for Singapore to do the catching. The US has always suspected that Osama is around there.

Perhaps it is also good to count our blessings and keep our fingers crossed that so far no terrorist bomb has exploded here – which is a small place and imagine the consequences, market crash, panic and flight outs should Singapore come under attack.

I am sure Singapore is doing good post Mas ; just bear in mind that since 9/11, the US after 7 years still have no clues as to the whereabouts of the man Osama who had claimed responsibility.

By the way what’s happened to the so called Senior Minister, why no body mention about him? He does nothing at all, not even a comment! enjoying salary! If the two top men disappeared from the country, he is suppose to be in charged….why keep quite and let WKS do all the talking!

PM Lee should not comment on us winning the bid for Youth Olympics since that is the purview of another Minister.

Or that he should tell us not to expect too many goodies in our Annual Budgets but to save our reserves for a bigger slice next time

But wait, HE DID!

As to Ash’s question abt why Wong kena blame, I guess it works both ways. Credit was given to him during the SARS crisis (check wiki for the link) but the work was carried out by people working in his ministries. So now, when the same ministries have had the same boo boo, the BUCK must also stop at his level. (not just the payhikes)

:)

1.) How a person whom the government has acknowledged had recieved military training in Afghanistan under the tutelege of Al Qaeda be not a threat in that, surely, such a person is equipped with the know how and daring to grab any one as hostage on the streets. WHY was there a 4 hours delay? Under existing Police SOP, would not any jailbreak let alone one involving what is Singapore’s NO. 1 MOST DANGEROUS man, be to alert members of the public IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT delay? Is this conduct becoming of a Government that prides itself as being of 1st world standards?

2.) Can any fathom such incredulous logic?

3.) While no such hostage taking episode has arisen since the jailbreak thus far, am I right to say that no one should assumed that such a scenario was an nigh impossible one right at the beginning? For what it is worth, wasn’t a breakout from ISD prison thought to be nigh impossible by all before Mas Selamat succeeded in doing so?

4.) Besides ourselves, our loved ones e.g. mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons and daughters could be out there on the streets, how can we be assured that ourselves and our loved ones would be safe out there on the streets?

5.) While some may think that this incident is but a one-off lapse, albeit a rather serious even embarassing one, what is there to say it won’t happened again?

6.) Will there be an independent review of the SOP, organizational culture and of any other relevant aspect at Whitley to see if there are defects in any of them?

7.) One can’t help but be curious how a stout man like Mas Selamat, who was carrying a limp, be able to squeeze through what is but a tiny window, scale or crawl under 2 layers of security fences. Can anyone enlighten the ignorant me on this?

8.) Can an actual reconstruction involving a similarly built person like Mas Selamat be conducted and screened “live” over national tv to demonstrate exactly how Mas Selamat had managed to escape?

9.) Can the government also please kindly shed some light on how officers and anyone else working at ISD and similar high security facilities are chosen?

10.) Are their backgrounds and those of their families screened for e.g. criminal and other offences similar to what a fresh security guard aspirant has to undergo?

11.) Were there any indications suggesting of questionable behavior amongst any of the guards at the Whitley Detention Center of late?

12.) Does the government also know if Mas Selamat had enjoyed a close relationship with any of the guards at the Whitley Detention Center?

13.) Also was the Center aware if any of its officers or other staff were in any financial troubles?

14.) Are all officers and staff at Whitley and other prisons assessed for their psychological, physical and financial well being, etc., on a regular basis?

15.) If so can the government furnish details on how such assessments work in actual practice?

16.) And correct me if I’m wrong, does not the ISD fall under the purview of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)?

17.) Why then has the PM NOT spoken a word on Mas Selamat’s escape since it happened? Does not the PM’s utter silence (he has been totally silent for the past 10 days and counting) but indicative of either his total lack of concern?

18.) As the minister-in-charge of the ISD and Head of Government, should not the Prime Minister have at least bothered to say even a few words i.e. to rally and assure the nation? Again is this conduct becoming of the Head of a Government that prides itself as being of 1st world standards?

19.) By not having done so, is he not guilty of dereliction of duty and care to the people in both his capacities as the Minister-in-charge and Head of Government?

20.) In the light of the escape, is Mr Lee Hsien Loong still fit to continue on as the de facto head of ISD?

21.) Should not the ISD be placed in the hands of a more competent person/s? Or is Sinagpore so bereft of talent? Are there no other person/s who can take over the ISD? If so what speaks of Singapore’s education or her world renowned remuneration system in attracting the best talents (local and foreign alike) to these shores to staff any a position that requires them?

22.) In the light of theories like this one http://singaporerebel.blogspot.com/2008/03/greatest-jailbreak-or-boldest-story.html breaking loose on the net, would the government assure the public that the promised commission on inquiry be truly an independent one with a membership consisting of only experts (locals and foreigners alike) with the highest ability, integrity and independence of mind? Otherwise why not allow for a truly independent Commission of Inquiry consisting of experts (locals and foreigners alike) with the aforementioned attributes and stature to not only provide for an assessment of the adequateness of operating procedures and physical security but be empowered (with the assistance of perhaps the INTERPOL or a body consisting of police from the region e.g. Aust and NZ especially if the jailbreak involves foreign complicity) to assign and apportion blame, charge, or absolve, individuals directly involved at the detention centre of negligence or criminal abetment (personal liability)?

23.) Is the government not afraid that the seemingly relative ease in which Mas Selamat has escaped, inspire or embolden aspiring terrorists here or in the region in conjuring up schemes to “stress test” the effectiveness of our security preparedness?

24.) Given the escape how can the government assure the people that whatever the security measures in place may be cannot be as easily breached?

25.) What did happened to the white SingPOST delivery van that went missing at Woodlands a few hours before the jailbreak? Is there any connections to the case at hand?

26.) Why did the authorities not make clear that Mas Selamat’s limp is only noticeable when he runs but not when he walks right at the beginning when his escape was first made known? i.e. WHY the delay?

27.) Would it not perhaps have saved the already stretched relevant security agencies quite a few useless tip-offs?

28.) Does the government not care about worthless noise distracting our security personnel from effectively discharging their duties?

29.) And in augment to Q25, Q26 & Q27, would not an earlier release of a detailed description of his limp have spared those who walks with an obvious limp of much unwanted scrutiny and attention to put it nicely?

30.) Why was the James Gomez footage available within 24hrs but not Mas Selamat’s?

31.) With regards to FM George Yeo’s comments that “what can be made public, will be made public”, should not it have read “what the public needs to know, will be told in full”, we are talking about the safety of ourselves, our wives, husbands, mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, daughters, sons and other loved ones here, should not we be at least be given that assurance?

32.) Is not an INFORMED CITIZENRY a cornerstone of being a TRULY 1st World Country?

33.) Is this one of the possible scenarios (or the fallout from it) where our PM Lee fears a strong opposition presence in Parliament? i.e. One where he will have to “fix the opposition and buy the votes of his supporters”?

What are the 2 DPMs for then? Are there no provisions in the Constitution that provides for one of the DPMs and/or if they are both incapacitated, then the Speaker of Parliament to exercise at least for the duration of the PM’s “incapacity” his powers and discharge his duties in accordance to what is provided for in our Constitution?

Are you trying to imply that no matter what the event is, or number of lives lost (and they could be those of one’s wife, husband, mother, father, son, daughter, brother, sister or other loved ones) in any a national emergency that happens to take place so “unfortunately” during the PM’s or that of other ministers (including those in charge of the relevant ministeries) incapacity for whatever reason/s, he should be excused? If so, what is the use of having a government then?

1.) How a person whom the government has acknowledged had recieved military training in Afghanistan under the tutelege of Al Qaeda be not a threat in that, surely, such a person is equipped with the know how and daring to grab any one as hostage on the streets. Under existing Police SOP, would not any jailbreak let alone one involving what is Sinagpore’s NO. 1 MOST DANGEROUS man, be to alert members of the public IMMEDIATELY WITHOUT delay?

2.) Can any fathom such incredulous logic?

3.) While no such hostage taking episode has arisen since the jailbreak thus far, am I right to say that no one should assumed that such a scenario was an nigh impossible one right at the beginning? For what it is worth, wasn’t a breakout from ISD prison thought to be nigh impossible by all before Mas Selamat succeeded in doing so?

3.) Besides ourselves, our loved ones e.g. mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons and daughters could be out there on the streets, how can we be assured that ourselves and our loved ones would be safe out there on the streets?

4.) While some may think that this incident is but a one-off lapse, albeit a rather serious even embarassing one, what is there to say it won’t happened again?

5.) Will there be an independent review of the SOP, organizational culture and of any other relevant aspect at Whitley to see if there are defects in any of them?

6.) One can’t help but be curious how a stout man like Mas Selamat, who was carrying a limp, be able to squeeze through a tiny window, scale or crawl under 2 layers of security fences. Can anyone enlighten the ignorant me on this?

7.) Can an actual reconstruction involving a similarly built person like Mas Selamat be conducted and screened “live” over national tv to demonstrate exactly how Mas Selamat had managed to escape?

8.) Could the government also kindly shed some light on how officers and anyone else working at ISD and similar high security facilities are chosen?

9.) Are their backgrounds and those of their families screened for e.g. criminal and other offences similar to what a fresh security guard aspirant has to undergo?

10.) Were there any indications suggesting of questionable behavior amongst any of the guards at the Whitley Detention Center of late?

11.) Does the government also know if Mas Selamat had enjoyed a close relationship with any of the guards at the Whitley Detention Center?

12.) Also was the Center aware if any of its officers or other staff were in any financial troubles?

13.) Are all officers and staff at Whitley and other prisons assessed for their psychological, physical and financial well being, etc., on a regular basis?

14.) If so can the government furnish details on how such assessments work?

15.) And correct me if I’m wrong, does not the ISD fall under the purview of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)?

16.) Why then has the PM NOT spoken a word on Mas Selamat’s escape since it happened? Does not the PM’s utter silence but indicative of either his total lack of concern?

17.) In the light of the escape, is Mr Lee Hsien Loong still fit to continue on as the de facto head of ISD?