THE capture of Jemaah Islamiah (JI) leader Mas Selamat Kastari on the outskirts of Johor Baru once again raises the question of just how alive and vibrant the JI terror network is in the region.

The arrests and incarceration of key JI leaders in recent years, the absence of a major terror attack in South-east Asia since 2005, and the unrelenting efforts of regional governments have crippled the JI network considerably.

JI STILL ACTIVE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA DESPITE the arrest of Mas Selamat, the threat from the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) terror group is still alive, said Mr Wong Kan Seng yesterday. Warning that the JI is still active in the South-east Asian region, the Deputy Prime Minister said: 'We must be alert for signs that they and other radical groups are stepping up their recruitment efforts or militant activities.' ... more

But the JI has also adapted.

So in spite of the region's persistence in weeding out the terror menace, the danger is far from over.

That Mas Selamat was able to stay under the radar in Johor for over a year after he escaped from the Whitley Road Detention Centre suggests that there is a surviving JI network in the state and it remains committed to the organisation and its struggle.

Members may not be up to much by way of terror plots, but the indoctrination and loyalties remain strong.

'It suggests the JI network in Malaysia may be less destroyed than we thought,' said International Crisis Group (ICG) analyst Sidney Jones.

Mas Selamat's arrest occurred around the same time that Malaysian authorities captured three others for JI-related activities.

Agus Salim, a 32-year-old Indonesian, was arrested in March and two Malaysians, Abdul Matin Anol Rahmat and Johar Hassan, were detained on April 1.

The wider JI network - scattered around the region - also remains plugged into the wider global terror network.

Read the full story in Saturday's edition of The Straits Times.