Article: The Straits Times - Guards were negligent, says MM
Date: Saturday April 5

Jemaah Islamiah terrorist leader and fugitive, Mas Selamat Kastari, was 'an escape artist'. And Singapore's security officers knew this. Yet, the terrorist leader was able lull his minders into believing they had him under control, before he gave them the slip. It has been a month or so since he escaped and there has been no significant breakthrough in his pursuit.

This episode has cast doubt on the efficiency of our national security. It may be somewhat difficult to deal with the thought that this national security also ensures our safety from other various threats. If complacency led to our security officers' negligence, this would be waking call, and a rude one too.

Here, we also shudder at the thought of how efficient, cunning and well trained the terrorists are, as we have yet to capture or outsmart them. Several times, he had slipped away ahead of Indonesian security when they were about to nab him. Mas Selamat Kastari also evaded arrest in other countries like Thailand and Malaysia.

Though our national security is at fault, we should not believe that we are living in a safe haven and nothing can go wrong. Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said that people who believe so are "living in a make-believe world". I think by saying this he wishes to bring the message across that our national security is not 100 percent on the ball 100 percent of the time. Thus a government needs the active support and cooperation of the people. Especially in some security blindspots and during emergencies. There have been reports that passers-by spotted Mas Selamt Kastari minutes after he escaped from the Whitley Detention Centre, but only reported the sightings hours after the incident. I believe this is a lesson that we should be more vigilant and take our national security more seriously.