Monday, May 26, 2008 19:00
90 days since escape… no more information?
In Andrew Loh, Main Stories, Top Story • 258 views • 28 Comments
Andrew Loh
Mas Selamat Kastari escaped from the Whitley Road Detention Centre on February 27, 2008.
It has been 90 days since.
There has been total silence on what the government is doing to capture him since the debate moved into the sphere of responsibility for the escape and the expressed desire of the government to repair its reputation.
The last thing that Singaporeans learned of the plans to capture the escapee was that the government was now adopting a “targeted approach based on intelligence”. This was on April 11.
The last time the Minister for Home Affairs gave any progress report to the public on the government’s plan to capture Mas Selamat was in Parliament on April 21. (Here and here)
The relative, some would say, total, silence since then is disconcerting, to say the least. This is especially so when you consider all that the government itself has said about the man – he is dangerous, he is “a wily person who could persuade his custodians”, and so on.
MM Lee Kuan Yew also warned Singaporeans about a ‘return hit’ if Mas Selamat has ‘crossed the border’. (CNA)
And:
One mistake and we’ve got a big explosive in our midst. So let’s not take this lightly. (MM Lee, New York Times)
So, why has there been total silence from the government about plans to capture this alleged ‘wily’ terrorist?
For one thing, the pre-occupation now is with ‘repairing’ the damaged reputation and image of the security forces, particularly the Internal Security Department (ISD). Indeed, all public speeches of late by government ministers were geared towards this end.
The then Law Minister, Professor S Jayakumar, urged Singaporeans to give the ISD officers their support on April 15. He said:
They have continued working patiently and resolutely with the detainees, their families, and the Malay community. These are crucial yet delicate tasks, and the officers deserve our full support.
(“JI escape: One blot should not mar good work, says Jaya”, Straits Times, April 15, 2008)
Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong echoed the Law Minister on April 26:
We have to repair our reputation, both as a government as well as a country. Our reputation has suffered as a result of the escape of Mas Selamat. But let’s look for ways to repair that.
(“SM Goh says it’s time to repair reputation after Mas Selamat’s escape”, Channel NewsAsia, April 26, 2008)
On May 26, the Minister for Home Affairs revealed the disciplinary action taken against eight officers for the escape – but still no update on what the capture plans are or whether there is any progress.
So, besides knowing that the government is now adopting a “targeted approach based on intelligence” and that the government believes Mas Selamat is still in Singapore, the public does not know what else the government is doing to capture the most wanted man in our island.
This is in acute, sharp contrast to the media frenzy which followed immediately the escape in February.
It thus seems that the government, and the security forces, have not learned their lesson which many have criticized them for initially – failure to provide the public with adequate and accurate information about Mas Selamat and the government’s plans to re-capture him.
Again, it looks like there is a lack of accountability and transparency.
Perhaps repairing the government’s reputation is more important than providing the public with crucial and timely information which may help in capturing the alleged terrorist.
And by the way, how long is the government giving the Home Affairs minister to capture Mas Selamat before it decides that failure in doing so warrants the minister assuming full responsibility? Even in Parliament today (May 26), all that the minister would do was to reiterate that the government believes Mas Selamat is still in Singapore – and nothing further.
Sir, I said on the 21st of April, that we’ve no information that Mas Selamat has left. It’s the same position that we still hold today.
The minister has had 90 days already – to capture a limping terrorist, with the entire security force at his disposal, in this tiny island.
The buck, surely, must stop somewhere.
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Read also: Breaking News: Supertintendent of detention centre sacked over Mas Selamat’s escape (with video of DPM’s Wong’s speech in Parliament.
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Related posts:
- Sharing of information between 3 countries led to Mas Selamat’s arrest – Star Online
- The Workers’ Party press release – Escape of Mas Selamat
- Reviewing Mas Selamat’s escape
- PM Lee speaking for the first time about JI escape
- Mas Selamat’s escape – Government shifting the blame to Singaporeans’ “complacency”
28 Comments
Daniel
ironman
I think let’s move on
Yes, let’s move on and not think about how the competence of this government has made this place all that much safer. I assume Mas has also moved onto I don’t know where.
families
How long does Mas Selamat family have to wait before the govt tell them what has happened to their sole breadwinner.
How long does the other 20+ ISA detainees and their families have to wait before they are released?
Another 17 years? 23 Years? Said zahari and Chia Thye Poh were released, and it is obvious they did not ‘recant’ their attachment to communism, but were let off.
I feel it is time to relook ISA and the works of ISD. Govt keep saying ISD have done a good job for singapore, but I still doubt a lot about the detention of Francis Seow over supposed spying for USA, the marxist conspircy etc.
Who is looking into the length of detention of these so called 20+ ‘terrorists’ and their welfare?
Are any of the Muslim Ministers interviewing any of these 20+ detainees to ensure it is not a cock and bull story, like the COI reports?
how long more before they are properly charged in court, or does ISA have no actual case against them? What ? 40 more days? 40 months? 40 years?
I understand in western countries, there are legal rights to how long a person can be kept without trial – unlike Singapore.
Andrew Ong
I think we should not be so naive to believe that MSK had escaped from a toilet (even with the time to think in using toilet rolls to cushion his fall) and climbed out of a fence of a tight-security holding centre within a span of 10mins??
Why are the toilet rolls there in the first place??? Shouldn’t they be kept in the storeroom??? Doesn’t sound like a prison toilet but like my home toilet. Even kopi tiam toilets have their windows grilled leh…
And no camera??? Wah liew… bluff who sia??? With all honesty, I have been imprisoned before and even a small-time convict like me oredi so strict, so what can one expect from a terrorist???
Moreover he seemed to have strolled in a park and climbed over a bench. No guards??? No barb wires??? I think even my school’s fence also more security tight than that Whitley Centre… KNS
My suspicion is that he is dead. How I dunno… But would you think someone cannot be found in our small red dot?? Cannot be what….?! Even the soldier who ran away with the SAR 21 also got caught within 20 hours.
Fellow Singaporeans, there is just too many question marks over this incident don’t you think?
Whitley-Gate
WKS said that there is no evidence from neighbours that M Selamat has set foot on their shores. So its inferred that he is within Singapore. More like Mas Selamat is ‘underneath the ground’.
Goodbye Girl
Ironman/TOC
You are right. What else really ? Let us be practical.
Learn to be happy in Leisure Island, if one can.
Sadly for those who cannot take it anymore, the moving out option is always there; replacements are just around the corner.
Finally I thank TOC for the unprecedented “disruptive” role they are playing- in the presentation of relevant & differing views. TOC is becoming the conscience of the people and hopefully TOC will be around for a long time.
tunkudon
nothing more to say , let move on . they like to side step thing, so let move on they got nothing more to say
kimbuaysong
screwed up as usual.
WKS better make sure the MS does not strike and cause deaths to locals, otherwise he will be signing his own obituary very soon.
Will he still get his fat performance bonus for this year? How come nobody ask this in parliament? All the MPS, including the opposition, are so screwed up.
Andrew Ong
After 90 days, finally 9 heads roll….
Are they scapegoats? Why aren’t their identities mentioned?
There are many here who like to say MOVE ON.
Moving on and forgetting it altogether is not the right attitude. Moving but press for information so that the public can take precaution of danger that might come in future is important.
Yes, we can move to other topics but do not forget that a TOP TERRORIST/ JI LEADER just went into hiding. We are not even sure if he left the country. If not he can start a series of attack right here in Singapore. Throwing chemical bomb inside an MRT is just as easy and scaring the public is not a difficult task for them. People are thinking that MSK is not dangerous. I bet to think so. After all it is working class Singaporeans, elderly and students who will be affected the most since they are taking bus and trains to commute most of their time. Who knows what will happen? If MSK didn’t leave the country he maybe forming a group of terrorist for small but deadly attacks, can you not be fearful? How sure are you about the safety checks in buses and mrt? Have all of us forgot London Underground and BIG BUS attacks? Many died.
FG
MSK is dead ?
Did MSK escape at all to begin with ? no point pointing to windows, guards,CCTV etc….. Singapore is too small for a man of this size to escape.
Why is there no news of him from other countries, such as indonesia ….. to many holes ……
Dead ? ?
We all should be prepared for terrorist attacks in the near future. A chemical bomb in MRT and BUSES not possible? We have A TOP JI LEADER escaped and remains at large in Singapore. How can we be unnerved by it? We should be aware that if a bomb goes off in public transports who suffers first? Students, workers and elderly commuting to work.
MSK has brought spotlight on the inability of our MHA to do anything that bring about confident. I have zero confident on their ability to prevent a terrorist attack in our shore within the next 2 years. We are a laughing stock not only to our ALLIES but also to would be TERRORISTS.
Some topics we can move on…but not security lapses like MSK escaped.
FG
Shirley
Perhaps the govt has moved on to more imminent matters….such as racking up their brains on the reasons for the next ministerial pay hike or perhaps issues such as “fixing the opponents” abt the recent court’s case. No?
Insulted
Let’s get one thing straight. I have heard comments like “we got him the last time” etc and we will get him again. Lets all be clear , it was the Indonesian who caught him and it was us who let him escape, according to the COI without his pants. If memory serves me right we have not caught or detained any proven terrorist except for the great church going, lawyer communist lot years back and the deviant Francis Seow. Since 1959 we have got more political opponents , sorry communist than any terrorist. We finally had one courtesy of our neighbour and we let him escape but than what to do it happen. Perhaps the detention centre had always beliefed than they will only get the political communist who confess to their crimes than actual terrorist who really know how to escape through a big gapping hole of a window.
The Singapore Daily » Blog Archive » Daily SG: 28 May 2008
[...] MSK Fallout – Hard Hitting in the Lion City: Fallout from Mas Selamat Kastari’s escape – Sgpolitics: A Leader Should Know How to Manage Failure – Baloney and Balls: Why wasn’t the ISD Director sacked? – The Sun Shines on Singapore: Mas Selamat’s Escape: Closure and Managing Public Expectations – TOC: 90 days since escape… no more information? [...]
Kaomangai
Look at it this way, WKS and the government have very limited options. Please guys, there are only so many ways that you can say “I DON”T KNOW”.
They have no idea how he escaped and absoultely no clue now on where he is. “Targeted approach based on intelligence” means if we have the intelligence, we will search. No intelligence, then do not need to search.
It will be interesting to see how this episode will end. I think in a year’s time, it will be another “we have no evidence that MAS has left Singapore” or something imaginative to that effect.
Andrew Loh
From the Straits Times forum page:
Catherine Lim:
Mas Selamat: Shocked and disappointed:
I REFER to yesterday’s report ‘Mas Selamat escape: Detention centre superintendent gets the sack’. So the Government has sought closure to the Mas Selamat saga by handing out an assortment of punishments to the nine, mainly low-ranking, officers and guards whose security lapses had led to the escape of the terrorist.
I wish to express deep disappointment, shock and pain that in a national scandal of unprecedented magnitude and public outrage, it is only the little people who are held accountable and punished.
Catherine Lim (Dr)
Daniel
“We, the citizens of Singapore
Pledge ourselves as one united people
Regardless of race, language or religion
To build a democratic society
Based on justice and equality
So as to achieve happiness, prosperity & progress for our nation”
Are we the citizen ? How come we become a second class citizen compare to foreigner ?
Are we united ? How come some coffers are more united than the rest through bondage of $$$ $$$ and more $$$$.
Regardless of race, language or religion ? Isn’t GCT says integration of foreigners are problematic and it shown ? Obviously when it comes to making money, integration is something to ‘do first, care later’ attitude.
To build a democratic society ? Really, what democratic you tell me ? Wayang type of democracy ?
Based on justice and equality ? As Catherine Lim says only little boy get affected, million dollars A-holes become so important that nothing happens to them. You call this justice and you call this equality. So what happened to Durai ?
So as to achieve happiness, prosperity & progress for our nation ? Who actually benefit from the prosperity and progress, economic growth ? Oh , those gahmen even pegged the economic and prosperity to their pay. How smart they are. appiness ? We even fail in happiness index and we even bring in counselor to find out why ! Incredible. Of course some people are more happy than the others with their exorbitant pay without the responsibility and accountability. When ask about their task , just say don’t know la, and if don’t know, how can they be responsible ? Act blur, act ignorance, so smart and so world-class and only applicable to Singapore.
Now imagine we been reciting this propaganda pledge since we are young that no longer apply to us to make us feel good.
Now if I will to amend the pledge, it will be more realistic than idealistic.
We, the slave of Singapore
Pledge ourselves as one digit
Regardless of race, language or religion
To build a pathetic, souless, incompassionate and wealthy society
Based on injustice and inequality
So as to achieve happiness, prosperity & progress for our ruling party”
How compassionate can the society be when we donate the money to China earthquake endup in >$500,000 in taxation over $9.5 millions ? The more you donate the more you get tax …. Amazing… unbelievable… World-class. … First class… Beyond words and understanding. …. MP/gahmen hiphop and Rapping in their ivory tower.
ironman
The blame and responsibility have been “bestowed” upon the 9 who got the stick. The boss of the superintendent of the WRDC was “relieved” of his duites eventhough WKS said he is not directly responsible for the escape but had to be punished simply because he was the “apex” of the hierachy – which is obviously a flawed argument. but what can we do – we can grip all we want but there is really little we can do now.
Jk
ironman,
You are so right. The sacrifice of the 9 was a great ploy on the part of the government to deflect further criticism. WKS is not only dishonorable, he’s sly as well.
Daniel
What to do, it’s happened that two prime ministers of clown calibre, one real clown and one deputy clown and to think that they are the most important #1 and #2 with power in Singapore. Yes,two most powerful clowns in Singapore that utterly hopeless and useless, and know how to pat each other and praise each other. Seriously what can they do ? Just know how to push the everything down to the citizen and surbordinate…
Daniel
Reading newspaper today, and when during the Dr Chee trial, Clown PM been asked if he is the not the son of LKY, will he still be chosen as prime minister, this clown respond “YES”. Amazing shameful clown living in his own make-believe world.
Many Teddies
Prolly just a ploy to keep citizens on their toes.
Window so small, man so fat…
No News
No news is good news. Dr Catherine Lim may have made her final comments too.
johannes
The boss of the superintendent of the WRDC was “relieved” of his duites eventhough WKS said he is not directly responsible for the escape but had to be punished …..That’s very funny, you WKS not directly responsible, too…..but why are you still in the ministry ???????????
tunkudon
what u think of diamond rice bowl……
jack
I have questioned if he would be given the performance bonus in my email to the pm office. But sadly this is the reply i have : The PM has commented on this in the paliament and wer dun wish to add on to it. That’s seems to have been enough from the our “world class” government as a reply to a concerned citizen. How irresponsible our government has been!!! Can we sign names on a petition to seek WKS’s performance bonus to be cut?
“One mistake and we’ve got a big explosive in our midst. So let’s not take this lightly.”
Yeah, yeah, this freaking old man preaching to the world again. Yeah, yeah, yeah, so where is the ‘big explosive in our midst’ now ? Anything happen since the PAP-proclaimed terrorist escape ? Where’s the action ?
Ah HA ! Yeah, yeah, going by the similar senile old man’s comment, it may take up to 30 years to see the fruit of the terrorist create the explosive just like investment of frailing banks.
I wonder if this old man is really con-man or a scam because his utter nonsense seem to align with some of the con-man that I encounter during my travel. The con-men will always feed on someone’s fear in order to ask the victim to fork out more money to him …
I can’t helping feeling the whole government is a scam…