Mas Selamat: Most S'poreans polled say: Restrict his privileges

Mas Selamat Caught
Most S'poreans polled say: Restrict his privileges
NO MERCY
THE words made famous by one-time boxing champ Roberto Duran, when he buckled under unrelenting blows from his opponent Sugar Ray Leonard, were 'no mas, no mas'.
10 May 2009

THE words made famous by one-time boxing champ Roberto Duran, when he buckled under unrelenting blows from his opponent Sugar Ray Leonard, were 'no mas, no mas'.

In English, it means no more, no more.

This echoes the overwhelming reaction of 100 Singaporeans towards any further bids by Mas Selamat to exploit security lapses.

No mercy, no second chances, say Singaporeans who want all his privileges taken away.

He will be brought back to WDRC when the Malaysian authorities complete their investigations.

And when the detention doors slam shut, it should remain shut, say Singaporeans polled.

Failure to do so would mean Singapore's security services losing face again. And that would be unthinkable.

The New Paper asked 100 Singaporeans: Should Mas Selamat be treated as a normal Internal Security Department detainee? Or should his privileges be restricted?

A whopping 81 per cent picked the latter.

Many still remember how Mas Selamat's audacious escape last February had caused Singapore embarrassment internationally.

Social Costs

His actions also resulted in major inconveniences - traffic jams on the roads and at checkpoints, hundreds of people mobilised in the manhunt, a population gripped by fear over a terrorist chief on the loose.

Undergraduate Nick Lie, 22, said: 'His privileges should be restricted because his escape led to Singaporeans having less confidence in the Home Affairs team.

'There were also extra costs incurred when the (Government) had to mobilise NSmen to conduct searches and when they had to recruit more security-based personnel.'

Many suggested that Mas Selamat be locked up in a cell of the highest security.

Undergraduate Ivan Yeo, 25, said: 'He's a threat to the public. The Government cannot afford to let him slip away again.'

Ms A L Chan, 31, a marketing executive agreed, noting: 'He's already escaped twice.'

She was referring to his first bold escape from Indonesian authorities before he was caught and sent to Singapore.

'Nothing less than maximum security for him will do,' said Ms Chan. If previously he had three guards to watch over him, perhaps he should have six guards now.'

Toilet Watch

The people also wanted Mas Selamat to be watched over when he visits the toilet.

After all, he did make his jailbreak from a toilet window, they pointed out.

Mr Kenneth Tan, 27, a bank executive, said: 'Follow him into the toilet.'

Student Emily Tan, 22, even suggested that Mas Selamat not be allowed to go to a toilet outside his cell.

Instead, put a potty in his cell, she said.

Others suggested taking away all visitation rights.

Businessman Ken Lim, 32, said: 'That should be his punishment for escaping.'

Mas Selamat and his wife have five children - four boys and a girl - now aged 8 to 19.

Last year in Parliament, Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng said that family visits to sustain the detainee's bonds with his wife, children and other family members are an important part of the rehabilitation programme for detainees.

A handful - 19 per cent - felt that there was no need to restrict Mas Selamat's privileges despite his actions.

Mr Aravin Raaj, 26, who is unemployed, said: 'It might be seen as inhumane, especially by other countries.

'But the security at (WRDC) should be beefed up instead.'

All the other people we polled shared Mr Raaj's sentiments about stepping up security at the detention centre.

Indeed, Mr Wong told reporters yesterday that WRDC is 'today very different from the one on Feb 27, 2008' - the day Mas Selamat escaped.

'Many security measures have been put in place and that is the place we are going to put him.'

- Joanna Hor, Geraldine Yeo, Audrey Tan, Naveen Kanagalingam, Han Yongming, Jovita Chua, Kay Tan, Shea John Driscoll, Ervina Mohd Jamil, newsroom interns

HARD WORK PAID OFF

'ISD officers worked very hard, even after the setback last year which was a painful lesson for all of them. They did not give up and they continued to work their leads, they looked at every lead possible and for this particular one they developed this lead on their own, confirmed its credibility and shared it with the Malaysians.'

- Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng

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