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Political implications of Mas Selamat’s re-arrest
SINGAPORE - The news of Mas Selamat’s re-arrest by the Malaysian police was greeted with relief by all and sundry. A head of the Singapore branch of the Jemaah Islamiyah, he was suspected to have harbored plans for acts of terror by crashing seven bomb-filled trucks within Singapore, and a plane into Changi Airport. He escaped from the Whitley Detention prison in February last year. According to official sources, it is the Internal Security Department (ISD) who gave Malaysians the lead on Mas Selamat’s trail, and “the ISD has redeemed itself” in doing so. The pertinent question is - what then are the political implications of his re-arrest?
It has been reported that opposition parties have been eyeing Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC for the next General Elections (GE). The GRC is currently helmed by Mr Wong Kan Seng, the current minister for home affairs. Mas Selamat’s escape from Whitley last year was predicted to be the main topic of contention. Apparently, Mr Wong might have received some sort of boost or saving grace from the ISD’s so-called role in leading to Mas Selamat’s re-arrest. One thing for sure is that during such debates, both Mr Wong’s opponents and the audience at large should not be expecting Mr Wong to reveal the specifics of ISD’s involvement in Mas Selamat’s re-arrest. The modus operandi of tracking terrorists by an intelligence agency is usually kept classified away from the public’s eye. Making such secretive information public would compromise its work.
During such a debate, dwelling on the specifics of Mas Selamat’s re-arrest is as good as missing the wood for the trees. The bigger picture should be a focus on potential lapses in security procedures in place at both sides of the causeway. There exist possibilities that individuals without passports could make it through the security barriers at both sides of the causeway.* In the beginning of 2009, Madam Voon Chit Yin, a grandmother who suffers from mild dementia, managed to make it back into Singapore without her passport. The implication is that the security at both sides is not watertight, and individuals harboring nefarious plots of terror could have slipped through, and this is a cause for concern. Took Leng How, Huang Na’s murderer managed to escape into Malaysia via the causeway before he was caught.**
Outstanding homeland security issues aside, political debates during a showdown at Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC should also touch on bread and butter issues. A member of the PAP team at Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC is Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defense. Besides bread and butter issues, other debate topics could revolve around education and National Service (NS). For instance, NUS is ranked amongst the costliest universities in Asia. Dr Ng can be quizzed on any concrete plans by the education ministry to help students cope with their expenses, especially those who come from low income households.
Edits
*Contrary to an earlier point stating that Mas Selamat crossed the causeway, in fact he did not. He swam cross the straits to Johor.
**Added Took Leng How’s case based on inputs from my fellow writers
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Latest updates at Singapore News Alternative:
1. Singapore - haven for money and fugitives
2. Singapore officials embarrassed by capture of terror suspect who left behind pants to hide escape
3. Taiwan can ink FTA with Singapore: President Ma Ying-jeou
4. Political implications of Mas Selamat’s re-arrest
5. AWARE Saga - A Trial Run For Post-Lee Kuan Yew Era
6. Mas Selamat's Arrest Kept Secret To Safeguard Operation .
.
Political implications of Mas Selamat’s re-arrest
SINGAPORE - The news of Mas Selamat’s re-arrest by the Malaysian police was greeted with relief by all and sundry. A head of the Singapore branch of the Jemaah Islamiyah, he was suspected to have harbored plans for acts of terror by crashing seven bomb-filled trucks within Singapore, and a plane into Changi Airport. He escaped from the Whitley Detention prison in February last year. According to official sources, it is the Internal Security Department (ISD) who gave Malaysians the lead on Mas Selamat’s trail, and “the ISD has redeemed itself” in doing so. The pertinent question is - what then are the political implications of his re-arrest?
It has been reported that opposition parties have been eyeing Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC for the next General Elections (GE). The GRC is currently helmed by Mr Wong Kan Seng, the current minister for home affairs. Mas Selamat’s escape from Whitley last year was predicted to be the main topic of contention. Apparently, Mr Wong might have received some sort of boost or saving grace from the ISD’s so-called role in leading to Mas Selamat’s re-arrest. One thing for sure is that during such debates, both Mr Wong’s opponents and the audience at large should not be expecting Mr Wong to reveal the specifics of ISD’s involvement in Mas Selamat’s re-arrest. The modus operandi of tracking terrorists by an intelligence agency is usually kept classified away from the public’s eye. Making such secretive information public would compromise its work.
During such a debate, dwelling on the specifics of Mas Selamat’s re-arrest is as good as missing the wood for the trees. The bigger picture should be a focus on potential lapses in security procedures in place at both sides of the causeway. There exist possibilities that individuals without passports could make it through the security barriers at both sides of the causeway.* In the beginning of 2009, Madam Voon Chit Yin, a grandmother who suffers from mild dementia, managed to make it back into Singapore without her passport. The implication is that the security at both sides is not watertight, and individuals harboring nefarious plots of terror could have slipped through, and this is a cause for concern. Took Leng How, Huang Na’s murderer managed to escape into Malaysia via the causeway before he was caught.**
Outstanding homeland security issues aside, political debates during a showdown at Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC should also touch on bread and butter issues. A member of the PAP team at Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC is Dr Ng Eng Hen, Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defense. Besides bread and butter issues, other debate topics could revolve around education and National Service (NS). For instance, NUS is ranked amongst the costliest universities in Asia. Dr Ng can be quizzed on any concrete plans by the education ministry to help students cope with their expenses, especially those who come from low income households.
Edits
*Contrary to an earlier point stating that Mas Selamat crossed the causeway, in fact he did not. He swam cross the straits to Johor.
**Added Took Leng How’s case based on inputs from my fellow writers
-------------------------
Latest updates at Singapore News Alternative:
1. Singapore - haven for money and fugitives
2. Singapore officials embarrassed by capture of terror suspect who left behind pants to hide escape
3. Taiwan can ink FTA with Singapore: President Ma Ying-jeou
4. Political implications of Mas Selamat’s re-arrest
5. AWARE Saga - A Trial Run For Post-Lee Kuan Yew Era
6. Mas Selamat's Arrest Kept Secret To Safeguard Operation .
.
