You see, we met on Facebook.

Now, before you go thinking the runaway terrorist has access to a computer, consider that his profile on the popular social networking website - which goes so far as to note he enjoys poker, has an e-mail address, and is a slippery Aquarius - is fake.

This gag is the latest in a string of jokes proliferating online from Singapore youth.

It is typical of the jocular attitude adopted by the youth here towards Mas Selamat's escape from detention almost a month ago, even as security agencies continue a massive hunt for the fugitive.

E-mail messages carry creative photo composites of the criminal Houdini in get-ups more likely on pop stars (Britney Spears), icons (Mother Theresa) and movie heroes (Harry Potter).

A discussion thread on Tomorrow.sg, a local online news bulletin, concludes he must have escaped via 'black magic or the toilet bowl'.

One Yusof Ishak Secondary 2 student dutifully jots on her blog 'Catch Mas Selamat' in her daily To-Do list, under less exciting errands such as 'Homework' and 'Clean my room'.

Other youth are using the same phrase as teen slang for 'sleeping'.

On YouTube, member 'AbelisLove' of the video-sharing website uploaded 'confessional videos' of the terrorist explaining why he escaped: 'I miss my boyfriend.'

Yet national security is hardly a laughing matter, and more serious citizens will no doubt find such goofing around immature and inappropriate.

On the other hand, it's hard not to crack a smile at it all.

Such flippant, low-brow comedy is precisely the domain of the young - a change from the serious, adult tones imparted through ubiquitous posters, islandwide text messages and headlines pleading for sightings.

It's good to know that the youth in Singapore have a sense of humour; before long, their time will come, and they, too, will have to grow up and get serious.

It generally goes to show the true impact of the incident on the youth.

When you're still in school, you are probably more worried about exams, even just general cleanliness. Oh, and relationships - boyfriends or girlfriends who may be more terrifying than a terrorist.

Jokes aside, we should all do our best to help in the search for Mas Selamat - that goes without saying. A healthy sense of humour, however, bears reminding.

It takes a mature society to be able to laugh at itself.

What's done is done.

Now I'm going to do my part. I'm logging on to Facebook to ask my new friend exactly where he's hiding.

zengyan@sph.com.sg

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