http://kentridgecommon.com/?p=3175
The Kent Ridge Common, 12 May 2009, Christopher Ong
What IF Mas Selamat had actually managed to carry out his plots against Singapore during the time of his escape?
That is the question that should confront us now, rather than the dishing out of incessant accolades on his successful arrest. While not denying that investigators on both sides of the causeway have played a commendable role leading up his arrest, a huge sigh of relief should come at this juncture than the popping of champagne and the patting of each other’s back.
The circumstances describing his escape to a remote village in Johor seems tattered at best. Maritime experts that were consulted after Mas Selamat’s arrest opined with an almost disturbing ease that he swam across one of shortest distance between Singapore and Johor with the help of an ‘improvised flotation device’; one that a schoolboy who could muster 20 laps at a swimming pool could swim, not to mention a limp legged fugitive. Minister Wong had also claimed that Singapore is a country with a ‘long coastline’ and being almost ‘porous’, is ‘easy’ for people to bring goods in and out of Singapore.
Given that these facts were not new discoveries, and were presented as almost commonsensical knowledge, why is it so that the maritime security of Singapore could not have easily concentrated their survelliance on these likely locations of Mas Selamat’s escape and thus prevented his 8-months gardening stint at a remote Johor village?
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak disclosed to the Malaysian media that Mas Selamat was ‘plotting hits’ on Singapore, and that although hiding in Malaysia, his targets were primarily of our country. This fact should disturb us. It is only due to Mas Selamat’s inability to leverage on his network and the lack of availability of resources that hampered him from carrying out his plots during the period of his escape that stretched close to 1 and a half years. Had the JI network been more well-connected, stronger and efficient, and carried out an attack which Mas Selamat had plotted upon his escape, perhaps Singapore would not be commending themselves so much now.
Mas Selamat’s arrest without him successfully carrying out any of his plots is a fortunate piece of news for Singapore. Indeed, credit should be claimed for his arrest, but the eagerness by which this was claimed bore a stark contrast to the shouldering of responsibility in the aftermath of his escape. Being all-too-ready to claim the trophy for their prize catch does not diminish their role in allowing for his escape in the first place.Singapore must be glad that history has not allowed the escape and subsequent re-capturing of Mas Semalat to descend into a pyrrhic victory.
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Latest updates at Singapore News Alternative:
1. What IF Mas Selamat had succeeded in carry out his plot to attack Singapore?
2. Tuas Power's China buyer seeks to refinance its S$2.25 billion loan
3. Neptune Orient Has Biggest Loss in 7 Years on Trade
4. Singapore Defence Minister Calls for Integrative and Collaborative Deterrence Against Piracy
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7. Chinese Exports Fall 22.6% in April
8. Which green shoots will wilt first?
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12. NUS Ranked 10th In "Asian University Ranking"
13. GIC pump more money into struggling GPT Group
14. Essential religious knowledge in our social studies syllabus?
15. Walker's World: Is this a recovery?
16. Singapore Government Plans S$1.73 Billion Info Tech Investments This Fiscal Year
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The Kent Ridge Common, 12 May 2009, Christopher Ong
What IF Mas Selamat had actually managed to carry out his plots against Singapore during the time of his escape?
That is the question that should confront us now, rather than the dishing out of incessant accolades on his successful arrest. While not denying that investigators on both sides of the causeway have played a commendable role leading up his arrest, a huge sigh of relief should come at this juncture than the popping of champagne and the patting of each other’s back.
The circumstances describing his escape to a remote village in Johor seems tattered at best. Maritime experts that were consulted after Mas Selamat’s arrest opined with an almost disturbing ease that he swam across one of shortest distance between Singapore and Johor with the help of an ‘improvised flotation device’; one that a schoolboy who could muster 20 laps at a swimming pool could swim, not to mention a limp legged fugitive. Minister Wong had also claimed that Singapore is a country with a ‘long coastline’ and being almost ‘porous’, is ‘easy’ for people to bring goods in and out of Singapore.
Given that these facts were not new discoveries, and were presented as almost commonsensical knowledge, why is it so that the maritime security of Singapore could not have easily concentrated their survelliance on these likely locations of Mas Selamat’s escape and thus prevented his 8-months gardening stint at a remote Johor village?
Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak disclosed to the Malaysian media that Mas Selamat was ‘plotting hits’ on Singapore, and that although hiding in Malaysia, his targets were primarily of our country. This fact should disturb us. It is only due to Mas Selamat’s inability to leverage on his network and the lack of availability of resources that hampered him from carrying out his plots during the period of his escape that stretched close to 1 and a half years. Had the JI network been more well-connected, stronger and efficient, and carried out an attack which Mas Selamat had plotted upon his escape, perhaps Singapore would not be commending themselves so much now.
Mas Selamat’s arrest without him successfully carrying out any of his plots is a fortunate piece of news for Singapore. Indeed, credit should be claimed for his arrest, but the eagerness by which this was claimed bore a stark contrast to the shouldering of responsibility in the aftermath of his escape. Being all-too-ready to claim the trophy for their prize catch does not diminish their role in allowing for his escape in the first place.Singapore must be glad that history has not allowed the escape and subsequent re-capturing of Mas Semalat to descend into a pyrrhic victory.
------------------------
Latest updates at Singapore News Alternative:
1. What IF Mas Selamat had succeeded in carry out his plot to attack Singapore?
2. Tuas Power's China buyer seeks to refinance its S$2.25 billion loan
3. Neptune Orient Has Biggest Loss in 7 Years on Trade
4. Singapore Defence Minister Calls for Integrative and Collaborative Deterrence Against Piracy
5. Singapore Announces Government IT Priorities For 2009
6. Temasek one of the buyers for Bank of America's stake in CCB
7. Chinese Exports Fall 22.6% in April
8. Which green shoots will wilt first?
9. More pain lies ahead for aviation industry, say industry leaders at TFWA Asia Pacific Conference
10. Candidates aplenty for DBS CEO search
11. Spore Power's SP Ausnet To Raise A$415 Mil In Share Sales As Profit Tumbles
12. NUS Ranked 10th In "Asian University Ranking"
13. GIC pump more money into struggling GPT Group
14. Essential religious knowledge in our social studies syllabus?
15. Walker's World: Is this a recovery?
16. Singapore Government Plans S$1.73 Billion Info Tech Investments This Fiscal Year
.
