MAS SELAMAT'S ESCAPE

Mas Selamat Kastari, the leader of the Jemaah Islamiyah network here in Singapore, had been on the run for quite some time since he escaped from detention at 4.05pm on Wednesday, in February 2008. He has now become Singapore's most wanted man.

Mas Selamat's escape disrupted the lives of millions, wasting manpower on his escape, causing inconvenience to the immigration process, jamming up our causeway etc. However, the initial outrage that greeted his escape has simmered, cooling into opinions cast in concrete. The media has moved on, covering other events.

Mas Selamat's successful escape even within the tight security in Whitley Road Detention Centre have shown a lot about Singapore's security system and the efficiency of our police force. Is our defence force really that inefficient? With the whole of Singapore's aids, and full-time police to track Mas Selamat down, he still remained undiscovered after such a long time. This shows a big loophole in our nation's security system, which must be patched up before our nation can progress further. As citizens, it is also our part to ensure the Singapore's safeness. I believe that with the help of the whole nation, Singapore will be able to get through this period of terror and uncertainty and together, we will be able to make Singapore a more peaceful country.



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