SEARCH GOES ON, RAIN OR SHINE: Visitors to Labrador Park walking past a military sentry post that had been set up to provide 24-hour surveillance of the vicinity as part of the nationwide manhunt for mas Selamat. Two teams have been working a rotational shift of 12 hours each day. Meanwhile, firsm such as Aasperon Manpower and Metropolis Security Systems have offered rewards for the fugitive's capture. -- ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG

Aasperon Manpower, which recruits workers from countries such as China, India and Bangladesh for the hospitality and manufacturing industries among others, said the money would go to the person who provides information which leads to the capture of the Jemaah Islamiah leader.

It is believed to be the highest offer to date.

Aasperon Manpower director Ferrine Chew told The Straits Times that the decision to offer the reward came from her having seen police officers combing a field next to the Kranji Expressway under a heavy downpour over the weekend.

She said: 'We cannot join the police in their search, so the least we can do is to raise awareness of the situation. It's not productive if this keeps dragging on.'

She said the sum came from company funds as well as contributions from employees.

Two weeks ago, private security company Metropolis Security Systems said it would give $1,000 to any of its 250 security guards who gave the police leads resulting in the fugitive's capture.

Crime Library Singapore, a volunteer organisation which helps find missing people - often by offering monetary rewards - also upped its stakes yesterday, to take it from $4,000 to $5,000.

Its founder, Mr Joseph Tan, said: 'We raised the reward to increase the chances of people coming forward to offer information.'

While these offers of rewards by the community were made in good faith, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Affairs Wong Kan Seng told reporters recently that offering rewards was 'not the practice of the police'.

A spokesman for the Home Affairs Ministry added, however, that it would consider seriously suggestions by the public that the authorities offer rewards.

'However, at this point in time, we do not think Singaporeans need the incentive of a reward in order to help the country for a matter as serious as this. Many Singaporeans have, in fact, already been offering advice and reporting suspicious persons,' the spokesman said.

Dr Teo Ho Pin, who chairs the Government Parliamentary Committee for Home Affairs and Law, told The Straits Times yesterday that any effort by the community to help capture Mas Selamat as soon as possible was 'definitely welcome'.

sujint@sph.com.sg