Without help, he would have found it hard to get out of Singapore, especially with the security dragnet in place since his breakout.

Police Assistant Commissioner Wong Hong Kuan said yesterday: 'We believe he was unaided, and therefore he does not have access to money, vehicles, or modes of transport.

'That underpins our belief that he is still in the country. That's why we're conducting this very intensive search.'

Up until yesterday, it was known only that Mas Selamat escaped at 4.05pm after asking to use the toilet at the Internal Security Department's detention centre.

Yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng let on that there was a 'physical breach' at the centre and that it had since been rectified. He declined to elaborate.

He announced that an independent three-member committee of inquiry chaired by former High Court judge Goh Joon Seng will investigate what happened at the centre that day.

As the search for Mas Selamat entered Day Five, the police gave more details to help the public identify him.

AC Wong, the director of operations, clarified that the fugitive's limp in his left leg is evident only when he walks briskly or runs. Otherwise, he appears to have a normal gait.

He is also likely to have changed his appearance since his escape. That was why police released two photographs showing him with his moustache and goatee, and clean-shaven.

As a man on the run, he will be looking for food, clothes and a vehicle to get around. So people should be alert if any of these go missing. He is a trained vehicle mechanic who can also pilot motorised boats.

AC Wong warned that Mas Selamat, 47, should be regarded as a dangerous man and advised against confronting him.

Although he escaped unarmed, he might have fashioned a weapon by now. 'It's possible that he's got hold of a knife or even fashioned a club or a stick,' he said.

By now, AC Wong added, Mas Selamat is likely to be anxious, desperate and 'potentially erratic'.

He advised: 'If you see him, do not confront him. Stay calm, walk away, and call the police immediately.'

So far, more than 330 people have called 999 or e-mailed the police with leads.

The fugitive is a leader of the Jemaah Islamiah terror network, but experts say he is unlikely to find support here as the JI set-up in Singapore has been crushed.

But he also has a reputation as a slippery customer, evading arrest for years before being nabbed in 2006 by Indonesian police, who handed him over to Singapore.

About 1,000 policemen, Singapore Armed Forces and other security personnel have been assigned to the manhunt, which started in the Whitley Road and Bukit Timah area, before extending to several other areas.

Yesterday, men and dogs were combing through the forests surrounding Lower Pierce Reservoir.

Assistant Commissioner Raymond Yeo, who leads the police Special Operations Command (SOC), said: 'What is more damaging than his escape from the detention centre would be if he managed to escape out of Singapore and issued a victory statement. I wish I...can guarantee we will get him, but we will do our best and we will leave no stone unturned.'

The commander accompanied DPM Wong, who is also Home Affairs Minister, on a visit to the SOC base in Queensway yesterday.

Mr Wong commended the work of the searchers as well as the spontaneous public support, singling out for praise grassroots leaders and students who helped distribute 'Wanted' posters.

Replying to reporters' queries, he acknowledged that Singapore's reputation for safety and security had 'suffered a knock somewhat'.

'But I believe our reputation continues to remain high compared to many other countries and we will do everything possible to ensure that this does not happen again,' he added.

He felt that life should go on, and how Singaporeans respond now is a test of their resilience. 'Let us not be cowed by this,' he said.

bertha@sph.com.sg

Related Stories:

Commuter's tip-off sets off 10-hour Bukit Batok search

Two separate probes into terrorist's escape

Police to keep up high-tempo manhunt till fugitive caught

S'poreans' response as 'one people' lauded