Singapore News: Finger Pointing For The Escape Of Mas Selamat

Ever since the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) leader detainee escaped from the Whitley Road Detention Centre on 27 Feb 2008, local goverment has been called to respond on the case and urged to find out the ridiculous escape. Now, the Ministry of Home Affairs has promised to give public a full account on the issue and the measure for prevention.

From Straits Time,

A ministry spokesman, responding to a query from The Straits Times which had asked for its reaction to a call from the opposition Workers' Party (WP) chairman for a full public disclosure on the inquiry into the Feb 27 jail breakout, said: 'Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Wong Kan Seng has stated that after the Committee of Inquiry completes its inquiry, we will give a full account to the public on how Mas Selamat escaped and what has been done to tighten security to prevent such a thing from happening again.'

In a statement issued by its party chairman Sylvia Lim on Tuesday, the WP called for an alternative panel to be set up by the President to look into the escape of terrorist Mas Selamat, who has been on the run for two weeks now.

Instead of the committee that was set up by Minister Wong, the WP has proposed that President S R Nathan appoint a Commission of Inquiry under the Inquiries Act so that investigations 'can proceed in public as the President shall direct'.

Ms Lim, who is a Non-nominated MP, noted that Mr Wong's COI is being set up under the Prisons Act.

This is not wrong, since the Whitley Road Detention Centre is considered a prison under this law, said Ms Lim.

However, she pointed out: 'The Prisons Act states that such inquiries shall not be open to the public. The Committee will submit its report to the Minister, and no part of the proceedings may be released to anyone except with the Minister's written permission.

'This raises important questions as to how much the public will eventually be told, since the Minister retains the discretion to release the findings as he sees fit.'

Somehow, Oppositions are now to be blamed for Mas Selamat's escape!!

"I have an important message for those who blame our esteemed Minister Wong Kan Seng for this incident. I put the blame squarely on the members of the Opposition.", said by Lucky Tan.

According to him;

1. WKS as minister cannot possibly know the detention center that well - you expect minister to inspect every toilet there? You expect the minister to train every guard? He has already apologised and taken responsibility. However, the members of the Opposition are the ones I blame for this mess.

2. A number Opposition members have been detained under the ISA and know this detention center inside out. They probably are familiar with the toilet used by Mas Selamat and the security flaws in the detention center - the redoctrination that purges them of harmful thoughts can temporarily increase the urge to escape. Knowing that the govt was detaining terrorist there, why didn't they point out the possible ways of escape to the govt? ...I don't think the Opposition has any valid reasons for denying responsibility for the escape, many have been detained there over the years and they spend more time there than almost anyone else.

Source