ContemporaryCaliph.Com

It has been more than 4 days since the disappearance of Singapore’s most wanted fugitive, Mas Selamat from the ISD custody.  His photos can be found literally almost in every part of the island and security has been stepped up along the borders. It is quite disappointing that he is still at-large and insofar no reliable information that may help the authority to find him.

Perhaps, for the first time in national history that incident like this is causing massive outrages amongst fellow Singaporeans.  From online blogs and forums, people are complaining about the saga and demanding more explanation from the authority. The assurance given by Dr Rohan Gunaratna during a CNA interview didn’t help much to silence the public. He was saying that incident like this are bound to happen everywhere, even in countries like US and UK security lapses did occurred. However, I believe that it is not justifiable to say that this incident needs to be tolerated.  It is outrageous that this incident did happen in such manner.  Nevertheless, lessons that can be learnt from such incident include the need to be on guard all the time and stay vigilant.  

A lot of people are blaming the authority for such failure, with some even posted online comments of demanding the resignation of DPM Wong. I wonder how, his resignation will helps to solve this security problem? Some people are just taking advantage to attack the government politically amid this crisis. At the same time, the too much reliance of government for every facet of life in Singapore is turning this nation into an unhealthy nanny state. Political activists have been lobbying for a greater civil society presence in this republic, yet have reached the stage where our society is politically matured? Just witness some MPS in several PAP housing estates, the residents expect too much from their MPs and think that MPs can solve the underlying problems, which some are created by them? Aristotle mentioned that man is by nature a political animal, however in Singapore context, Singaporeans are by nurture, economic species.

Coming back to the Mas Selamat saga, it is quite disturbing also to see some public figures that may be seen as trying to gain some public spotlight by officially showing they are ‘helping’ the authority to look for Mas Selamat via distributing notices to people. While this effort should be commendable, the way some public figure(s) (who’s known to many for regularly stealing the spotlight) is seen busy giving speeches and talking to the media highlighting his effort in galvanising volunteers to help in this massive manhunt.  I am in no position to make any judgement on his ‘effort’, but somehow analytically you can’t escape from hypothetically not think otherwise. However, who knows if they are sincere about it? Then perhaps its good, Wallahu’alam.

In retrospect, it is also quite worrying that some people tend to ‘sympathise’ with the JI’s fugitive and questioning the truth behind everything, albeit indirectly. Again, I am in no position to give any definite answer. However these sympathisers are quite disturbing. Despite numerous efforts from several agencies, including the mainstream Asatizah and the RRG team, there are still people who are not convinced and downplay the terrorist threat in this republic. Perhaps more need to be done to ensure that Muslim community especially are united in our War Against Terrorism – not because it’s an American-led but because the notion of Islam itself that rejects terrorism, tyranny, oppressions and injustices.

It is quite shocking to read the latest news alert on Wednesday night when it was announced that Singapore’s most wanted JI member managed to escape from ISD custody. Knowing for its second-to-none gold security standard, it is hard to believe a clumsy incident like this had happened in Singapore. MHA issued the media statement only slightly after 8 pm on Wednesday night, around 4 hours after the detainee, Mas Selamat reportedly to have escape from the Whitley Detention centre, located near the Old Police Academy and in the vicinity of several schools like SCGS, SJI and ACS (Barker Rd).

First of all, this incident raises several questions to many shocked Singaporeans. I believe only few would have anticipated this to actually happen in Singapore. It is quite puzzling as to how a dangerous man like him managed to give a slip to the security personnel at the detention centre. Reply given by DPM Wong Kan Seng in parliament after being probed by MPs didn’t shed much light to event surrounding this security lapse. It is known that he had been taken from his cell to go to the visitors area to meet his family, when he asked to use the toilet. That was when he vanished. I’m not very sure how convincing this explanation is to the public-at-large; however it raises more questions marks than full stops. Although DPM Wong urged the public not speculate, I believe it is hard not to do so when little information are given by the authority. An independent investigation committee will be set up to study the case carefully, however you can’t just stop thinking and pondering upon what exactly went wrong in the detention centre. Aren’t the security was supposed to be tight enough? How about all the surveillance technologies installed, like the CCTV et al? All that didn’t worked?

Secondly, it is outrageous to find out that the news of his escape was only made public after 4 hours of the manhunt started. Although it was assured that there was no imminent danger as gathered by intelligence services, the fact that a high-profile terrorist suspect was at-large without public knowledge for several hours is a call for concern. However, I’m sure we all know MHA was trying its best to do what it could, especially in a rare situation like this. One thing maybe they can do is to launch “The Great Singapore Terrorist Hunt” and provide monetary incentives to rewards members of the public who wish to participant in this ‘race’, as one STI respondent put that Singaporean love ‘hongbao’…haha!

Thirdly, as a result of this incident, securities checks are being tighten up in many areas especially the checkpoints bordering Malaysia and Indonesia. This is causing unnecessary disruptions to the flow of vehicles in highways and causeways. Definitely, now is not the best time to go to JB, unless you want to be caught in the massive traffic jams. The former Indonesia-based JI leader told CNA that Mas Selamat may have fled Singapore and could already have been in Sumatera Island where there is a JI support network that can shield him from the authority. Security analysts also theorized that he may be trying to get out of Singapore to seek protection and this itself may pose danger to this region. Just hope that he’s still in the island and not escaped to either Indonesia or Malaysia. After all according to Dr Gunaratna, his main aim now is to survive, especially after the severe disruption of the JI network in Singapore. If he was able to flee Singapore then this will cause great embarrassment to the republic for the failure to safeguard the security of the region, especially in keeping this dangerous man under its custody.

Well as of now, after more than 48 hours is his escape, no signs telling that he’ll be caught soon. Ironically, some funny Singaporean actually called the police and declares he is Mas Selamat when he was just trying to joke around with the authority. It is absurd that some irresponsible Singaporean uses such opportunities to make fun, while a serious security issue is happening. Speculations are also mounting as what exactly is happening and what had happened. Some people suggest that he may have escaped by using some ‘magical spell’, though hard to believe, surely you can’t rule this out completely. While some conspiracy theorists suggest creative ideas like he is actually still in the detention centre, this is just an exericise and the most funny I heard is he escaped wearing the Gurkhas uniform as he also looks like one!How creative can these people be!!hahaha!

Massive manhunt is still ongoing with his photos are visibly everywhere in the island. In Masjid Al-Iman for example, I saw every floor including its entrance are pasted with pictures of Mas Selamat (more than the portrait of President Nathan you can find :P). Indeed he is really a WANTED fugitive. I read also that his family house in Teck Whye is being heavily guarded by the security forces. I’m sure he is not that unintelligent to have return to his home. But whatever it is, he is really causing a lot of problems to the community. I just hope this saga will end soon, if anything were to happen (Na’uzubillah) Singapore as a country and Muslim community as a race will be in the unwanted spotlights. What we need to do now is of course to stay vigilant and do not be complacent. After this saga end, our security forces are liable for explanations to the public and perhaps it’s about time for us to rethink our safety standard.