Prof Jayakumar said like all other Singaporeans, he feels as if he knew the late Ms Lo, and could share the family's pain. -- ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN
SINGAPOREANS must always stay vigilant and be prepared against any terrorist attack which can happen here, warned Deputy Prime Minister S. Jayakumar on Saturday.
Professor Jayakumar made the remarks after he called on Mr Stanley Puhaindran, the father-in-law of Ms Lo Hwei Yen, 28, who was killed in the Mumbai terror attacks at the Oberoi Hotel there, to offer his condolences.
Mr Puhaindran is a long-time grassroots leader in Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong's Marine Parade costituency. Mr Goh visited the family on Friday night.
Speaking to reporters later, he said: 'Every time a terrorist attack takes place anywhere, we have to take it as a learning experience for ourselves. We must remind ourselves this can happen in Singapore. So we have to be always vigilant and prepared.'
Prof Jayakumar said he had spoken to the security officials in Singapore.
'When things have settled down, they will be in touch with their Indian counterparts to see what lessons we can learn for our own security situation, eg. What lessons can we learn to prevent such attacks? And if an attack unfortunately does happen, what lessons can we learn to effectively deal with it?" he said.
He said he knew Mr Puhaindran but not his son, Michael, and Ms Lo, a lawyer who worked with Stephenson Harwood, a foreign law firm based here.
Ms Lo was in Mumbai to attend a business seminar when she was caught in the hostage standoff at the Mumbai Oberoi Hotel.
Her body was found on the 19th floor of the hotel. Her husband identified her body on Friday night.
She was among at least 21 foreigners who were killed in the terrorist attacks, which have left more than 155 people dead and 370 injured.
Prof Jayakumar said like all other Singaporeans, he feels as if he knew the late Ms Lo, and could share the family's pain.
'Many of us travel and we know that this tragedy could have easily happened to any of us or our loved ones,' he said.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Saturday sent his condolences to Mr Michael Puhaindran and his family over Ms Lo's tragic death.
In his condolence letter, PM Lee, who first learnt about the terrorist attacks while he was in Santiago, Chile, said terrorism is a threat that knows no boundaries, adding that Ms Lo's death brings home to everyone the reality of this terrorist threat, and how important it is to keep the guard up and defeat it.
'This is the first time a Singaporean has been a victim of a terrorist attack,' said PM Lee.
'Terrorism is a threat that knows no boundaries. This is a family tragedy for you, but it also brings home to all of us the reality of this terrorist threat, and how important it is to keep up our guard and defeat it.'
President SR Nathan and his wife on Saturday also sent their condolences to Ms Lo's family and Mr Puhaindran's family.
