Capture of Mas Selamat: S'poreans express relief

May 8, 2009

Capture of Mas Selamat

S'poreans express relief

By Sujin Thomas
		Mas Selamat's capture has also brought redemption to Singapore's security agencies which came under fire for lapses which led to his escape. -- ST PHOTO: SAMUEL HE

NEWS of the recapture of Mas Selamat was met with a sense of relief, especially as he was caught just as he was said to be planning to act against Singapore.

'I was so proud when I read that the Malaysian authorities caught him with help from Singapore intelligence. We may have made a mistake when he got away, but I think we've more than made up for it with this arrest', said Mr Mirza Khan, 37, who runs his own IT and logistics business.

The timing of his capture was critical for the deputy chairman of the Government Parliamentary Committee on Law and Home Affairs, Mr Alvin Yeo.

'It would have been awful if he was planning something that would inflict harm to society. Relief was my immediate reaction to the news.'

Mas Selamat's capture has also brought redemption to Singapore's security agencies which came under fire for lapses which led to his escape on Feb 27 last year.

'His arrest will bring closure for those who were responsible for inadvertently letting him escape last year. I hope they will feel better, and not blame themselves so much now', said Ms Clara Loy, 50, a manager.

Politicians agreed with her sentiments. Senior Minister of State for Trade & Industry and Education Mr S. Iswaran added: 'It is a tribute to the professionalism of the intelligence agencies who persevered and they worked across borders with their partners to secure his eventual arrest.'

While MP Indranee Rajah, GPC chairman for Defence and Foreign Affairs, also praised Singapore's Internal Security Department for providing the intelligence which led to Mas Selamat's capture, she and many of the 50 people interviewed in a street poll said the fugitive's recapture was a reminder of the need to pay closer attention to security.

http://forums.delphiforums.com/sunkopitiam/messages?msg=28568.55