JI Leader Mas Selamat Escaped From Detention Centre
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Why toilet rolls can appear in the urinal cubicle ? Please go to public toilet and check whether any toilet rolls are placed in or near urinal ? I think they are all Tai Chi master, blaming Gurkha guards.
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it's a world class embarrassment
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Strange also. To have a urinal in a cubicle... I thot urinals were usually outside cubicles.
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why are there still so many grouses when the TV media had already interviewed those who were present at the paliment and all had expressed satisfication in the COI
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The TV only showed those who are satisfied with the COI. Those who are not satisfied are not shown,
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Don't be con by the TV. It showed only good thing from spore, it also showed bad thing abt other countries if there is any
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Channel NewsAsia - 23 minutes ago
PM Lee says ministers shouldn’t be automatically removed for lapses down the line
SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said that public officers, including ministers, should not be automatically removed or punished just because a lapse has occurred down the line.
He said that while the government must admit its mistakes openly and honestly, Singapore should not encourage a culture where officials resign whenever something goes wrong on their watch, or encourage witch—hunts.
Mr Lee made his remarks in Parliament, just a day after Home Affairs Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng gave a detailed account on the escape of Jemaah Islamiyah leader Mas Selamat Kastari.
Since Mas Selamat’s escape some two months ago from the Whitley Road Detention Centre, some Singaporeans have made calls for the Home Affairs Minister to take responsibility for the security lapse and step down.
Mr Lee said that when things go wrong, the government has to deal with it decisively and effectively, identify shortcomings and put them right and take steps to prevent recurrences.
But he said Singaporeans should not do this in a manner which would damage and demoralise the security agencies.
He acknowledged that the minister is ultimately accountable for the policies and operations of his ministry, but said a rationale approach to establish who is responsible for lapses has to be taken.
These include finding out who failed in their duties and whether there was negligence or incompetence.
Mr Lee made clear though that if there are questions over the integrity of the people involved, they would be removed, no matter how minor the incident.
He said the government’s aim is to try and do things right the first time and urged Singaporeans not to over—react to one bad incident, as it could lead to going overboard in trying to solve a problem.
Mr Lee is satisfied that the Home Affairs Ministry has taken the correct remedial and disciplinary action in light of the escape.
And he has thrown his full support behind DPM Wong and the Internal Security Department director for the good work done by them in the fight against terror.
PM Lee recognises that Singaporeans demand and expect high standards of integrity and performance from every public servant, including ministers.
He assured the House that this is what the government will continually strive to achieve. — CNA/ir
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Channel NewsAsia - 31 minutes ago
Three critical factors led to Mas Selamat’s escape
SINGAPORE: A confluence of three critical factors led to security lapses that resulted in Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) detainee Mas Selamat Kastari’s escape from detention in February.
This was the conclusion of the Committee of Inquiry (COI) on Mas Selamat’s escape from the Whitley Road Detention Centre on 27 February this year.
The findings of the three—member panel were presented by Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng in Parliament on Monday afternoon in a Ministerial Statement.
First, there was a physical security breach as the ventilation window in the toilet — from which Mas Selamat made his escape — did not have grilles.
Second, the guards watching Mas Selamat allowed him to close the door of the urinal cubicle when they should not have done so.
And third, there was a physical weakness in the perimeter fencing outside the Family Visitation Block, where the toilet was located, which made it easier for Mas Selamat to get out of the detention centre’s premises.
On the day of his escape, Mas Selamat was escorted by two Gurkha guards and a Special Duty Operative — who is an Internal Security Department (ISD) officer — from his cell to a locker room to change into civilian clothes for his family’s visit.
At the locker room, the guards lost sight of him when he stood behind a column of lockers to change. He was then escorted to the Family Visitation Block, where he used a toilet, renovated in 2007, to shave and comb his hair before meeting his family members.
He then entered a urinal cubicle, closed the door and turned on a water tap inside the cubicle. One guard stood outside the cubicle door, while the other was outside the main toilet door.
After a while, the guard outside the cubicle felt Mas Selamat was taking too long. But instead of checking, he alerted the second guard outside the toilet, who alerted the female Duty Operative.
The Duty Operative then alerted a male Assistant Case Officer, who ran in, kicked open the door and found Mas Selamat gone. The ventilation window in the cubicle was left open.
Mr Wong said the delay by the guards and their failure to keep Mas Selamat in sight was the second most critical security failure which led to the terrorist’s escape. By this time, 11 minutes had lapsed since he first entered the toilet.
The COI found that during renovations in 2007, grilles had not been fixed to that particular toilet window due to a misunderstanding between the ISD and the contractor.
The superintendent of the centre, who was alerted to this weakness in May 2007, asked the contractor to saw off the window handle as a security measure instead, which Mr Wong said was a bad judgement on the superintendent’s part.
In addition, the CCTV coverage of the area was being upgraded to add motion—detectors, but the cameras were not yet operational.
While there is no conclusive evidence as to how he had escaped from the centre after that, the COI believes Mas Selamat may have climbed onto the roof of an enclosed staircase which converges with the perimeter fencing. He could then have jumped over the fencing out of the centre.
The COI also believes that the JI leader had planned his escape over time.
DPM Wong said: "Prior to his escape, during previous family visits, Mas Selamat had partially closed the urinal cubicle door on some occasions.
"On 5 February 2008, he had closed the urinal cubicle door completely and turned on the water tap. The COI believes that these actions by Mas Selamat could have been done to test how the guards would react. This could also have helped him prepare for his actual escape attempt.
"This planning had not been noted by the guards, possibly because the guards are frequently rotated to avoid over familiarisation or fraternisation with detainees."
The COI — comprising Mr Goh Joon Seng, a retired High Court Judge; Mr Tee Tua Ba, a retired Commissioner of Police; and Dr Choong May Ling, Deputy Secretary of Security at the Home Affairs Ministry — was given full access to all information in its investigations of Mas Selamat’s escape.
This included highly classified and sensitive information on operational systems and processes, as well as access to interviews with ISD intelligence and field personnel.
The committee submitted its report on 10 April and Mr Wong said he is "satisfied" that it has "held nothing back" in its conclusions and recommendations.
He added that in view of the keen and valid interest of MPs and the public, an Executive Summary has been released on the COI’s findings.
In response to a question from opposition non—constituency MP Sylvia Lim, Mr Wong said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is expected to make a ministerial statement in Parliament on Tuesday on government responsibility for Mas Selamat’s escape. — CNA/so
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Originally posted by QX179R:
Channel NewsAsia - 23 minutes ago
PM Lee says ministers shouldn’t be automatically removed for lapses down the line
SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said that public officers, including ministers, should not be automatically removed or punished just because a lapse has occurred down the line.
He said that while the government must admit its mistakes openly and honestly, Singapore should not encourage a culture where officials resign whenever something goes wrong on their watch, or encourage witch—hunts.
Mr Lee made his remarks in Parliament, just a day after Home Affairs Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng gave a detailed account on the escape of Jemaah Islamiyah leader Mas Selamat Kastari.
Since Mas Selamat’s escape some two months ago from the Whitley Road Detention Centre, some Singaporeans have made calls for the Home Affairs Minister to take responsibility for the security lapse and step down.
Mr Lee said that when things go wrong, the government has to deal with it decisively and effectively, identify shortcomings and put them right and take steps to prevent recurrences.
But he said Singaporeans should not do this in a manner which would damage and demoralise the security agencies.
He acknowledged that the minister is ultimately accountable for the policies and operations of his ministry, but said a rationale approach to establish who is responsible for lapses has to be taken.
These include finding out who failed in their duties and whether there was negligence or incompetence.
Mr Lee made clear though that if there are questions over the integrity of the people involved, they would be removed, no matter how minor the incident.
He said the government’s aim is to try and do things right the first time and urged Singaporeans not to over—react to one bad incident, as it could lead to going overboard in trying to solve a problem.
Mr Lee is satisfied that the Home Affairs Ministry has taken the correct remedial and disciplinary action in light of the escape.
And he has thrown his full support behind DPM Wong and the Internal Security Department director for the good work done by them in the fight against terror.
PM Lee recognises that Singaporeans demand and expect high standards of integrity and performance from every public servant, including ministers.
He assured the House that this is what the government will continually strive to achieve. — CNA/ir
But why did WKS smile when he said photos of MAS selamat is posted all over singapore?
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By GILLIAN WONG,Associated Press Writer AP - 26 minutes ago
Singapore PM says top home ministry officials not responsible for terror escape
SINGAPORE - Singapore's prime minister Tuesday voiced support for the city-state's top Home Ministry officials following a government probe that showed several security lapses allowed a top terror suspect to escape a prison.
Speaking in Parliament, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong acknowledged that Muslim terror suspect Mas Selamat Kastari's escape from a detention center should never have happened.
"We must admit our mistakes openly and honestly, put them right, and act against those who have been culpable," Lee said.
But Lee said he remained confident in Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng, as well as the top management of Wong's ministry, whom the leader said were not to blame. Wong is also a deputy prime minister.
"I am satisfied that the ministry has taken the correct remedial and disciplinary action, and that the minister and top management were not to blame for what has happened," Lee said.
The Home Ministry oversees the Internal Security Department, which runs the Whitley Road Detention Center where Mas Selamat, like other terror suspects, was being detained without trial.
Wong had reported Monday the results of a government probe into the Feb. 27 jailbreak of Mas Selamat, who once allegedly plotted to hijack an airplane and crash it into Singapore's international airport.
The probe showed that Mas Selamat had slipped out through an unsecured bathroom window when surveillance cameras were turned off.
The escape triggered a monthlong nationwide manhunt in which police, special operations officers, elite Gurkha guards and soldiers combed the island nation's forests. Border security was tightened. Authorities believe Mas Selamat is still in the country.
Lee said he understood that the government had to be accountable to its citizens for mistakes that happen, but urged the public against overreacting.
"I think it's true that Singaporeans have very high expectations of their government and therefore whenever there's a lapse, they take it very seriously," he said. "But the last thing we need is a witch hunt which would damage and demoralize our intelligence and security agencies."
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huh?
they not responsible?
then who responsible?
me?
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basically the pm just parrot the dpm's speech...bottom line is that, the guards were at fault, so too was the supt of the centre for being too cheap to install grilles, the isd director for not controlling his units effectively and more importantly the entire nation has been complacent, so leave the innocent dpm alone, he needs the pay cheque,,,
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What is the function of the government if any major mistake they will push to the junior officers ? Then any Tom , Ah Seng can be minister what. No need to be responsible if anything happens, just play Tai Chi lah
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What I think...
indirectly saying......not my fault, i am always busy sitting in my office, where got time to look at these small things. My salary is millions and i should only look at big picture. The person lowest in the `food' chain should be the one to take responsibility. I have already punished him. Dun question me. You all voted me in, so it is conclusive that you believe in my abilities.
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Nobody, starting with the bleddy Wong Kan Seng wants to take responsibility! Pass the buck to the junior officers because all the seniors were sleeping so now all happily hope we have been brainwashed enough to just accept a bloody report that is so full of holes that an elephant can go through!
Why we need to recruit foreign nationals to Team Singapore. Mas Selamat can escape from a toilet, climb down pipes, fence, cross a field without making any sound and without being seen. And in just a matter of minutes. Wat the hell was the other bleedy minister Mahbok Tan doing all this time? If he recruited Mas Selamat to our national sporting team, he would not have become involved in JI activites!!!
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As a casual Singaporean observer, I find the physical security for a detention facilities holding terrorists disappointing.
But he said Singaporeans should not do this in a manner which would damage and demoralise the security agencies.
Albeit a fair statement for the security agencies, it is unfair to expect Singaporeans citizens, civilians, to not feel discouraged & demoralised over the what has transpired.
No, we should not expect the Minister of Home Affairs to resign over what has happened. However, what happened will also invite criticism about pay increases for ministers. One cannot help observe that high salary does not seem to have direct co-relation to a ministry's effectiveness.
A cynical "Congratulations" to Mas Selamat, for being the "Sam Fisher" of Singapore. He has beat the entire ministry of home affairs with 7 rolls of toilet paper in his escape from a supposedly "high-security" detention facility.
I hope our security agencies will be on high alert now. Its almost impossible to believe MSK is still in Singapore, and we should do as MM Lee says, "Brace for retaliation."
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... one question;
when was the last time WKS personally visited the detention center and did a walk about to inpect the facilities there?
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Originally posted by maurizio13:
huh?
they not responsible?
then who responsible?
me?
Why you never volunteer to watch over the guy when he was in the detention centre?
Why?
Of course you are responsible lah.
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Originally posted by charlize:
Why you never volunteer to watch over the guy when he was in the detention centre?
Why?
Of course you are responsible lah.
guilty as charged.all Singaporeans are responsible for the escape of Mas Selamat Kastari.
we should not put the blame on our overworked and underpaid Ministers.
we Singaporeans should just let the matter rest, it's an honest mistake and negligence.
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Million dollar salaries for the guards at the detention centre.
That's how you motivate them to be vigilent.
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Originally posted by charlize:
Million dollar salaries for the guards at the detention centre.
That's how you motivate them to be vigilent.
I cannot find any reason to justify that your suggestion does not make sense.since security is reportedly poor, maybe it is time to look into the security leaderships and men's wages. It is said that paying millions will bring in the talented talents.
So, in this respect, you may have suggested a solution never tried before for security. If i were security and paid just 1.5 million a year, i pledge to do whatever my boss tell me to say, do and write. I will serve with 100% best. if this does not work, plug in another 1.5 million to make it nice and round figure of 3 million a year. CPF and Bonus and perks and allowances not yet included somemore.
good idea! but who pays?
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Originally posted by maurizio13:
guilty as charged.all Singaporeans are responsible for the escape of Mas Selamat Kastari.
we should not put the blame on our overworked and underpaid Ministers.
we Singaporeans should just let the matter rest, it's an honest mistake and negligence.
yes, i feel guilty also.
I think i will err on my complacency by volunteering to work on behalf of our guards. like this cans or nots?
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Originally posted by HyperFocal:
... one question;
when was the last time WKS personally visited the detention center and did a walk about to inpect the facilities there?
you would realised that WKS absolved himself of everything by commenting it is ISD's responsibility and saying "we must support them" instead of "Singaporeans must support us"
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Channel NewsAsia - 51 minutes ago
MPs focus on accountability of ministers in case of serious lapses
SINGAPORE: The questions and answers which followed Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong’s ministerial statement on Tuesday still focused on accountability and responsibility for the escape of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) detainee Mas Selamat Kastari.
Some MPs even broached the idea — whether ministers should resign, as CEOs do in the private sector, when there are serious lapses.
But the prime minister said calls for public officers to resign should be rejected.
"If you take this to the logical conclusion, it should go all the way up to the prime minister. And every time something happens in the government, you change (the) prime minister. This is not how this government works," said Mr Lee.
MP for Ang Mo Kio GRC Inderjit Singh expressed confidence in the deputy prime minister and the Internal Security Department (ISD), but also raised the issue of punishment.
"We have adopted a reward system that matches that of the private sector that we pay everyone as high as possible. And therefore people expect that — when you make a mistake, you (should) be appropriately punished," he said.
The prime minister reiterated that punishments must depend on the results of investigations.
"If you generate the culture that nobody wants to make mistakes and (is) afraid to do something for fear of making mistakes, that — as Dr Goh Keng Swee used to say — would be the biggest mistake of all," said Mr Lee. — CNA/ac
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Originally posted by charlize:
Why you never volunteer to watch over the guy when he was in the detention centre?
Why?
Of course you are responsible lah.
i agree.We are all complacent.
1. why din we audit the DC?
2. why din we keep watch of abang?
3. why din we go into the forests and under rain and catch abang ?
4. why did we focus on our work and not on the abang?
you see, we have sinned. But this is an honest mistake. So, we are pardoned. not our fault.
the pore has shown the world and all intellectuals what our leadership is all about. they so great and integrity.
if no change in future, i resign from the inc. I swear.