No use spinning stories about community bonding and so on when what is urgent is to find out how it could have happened in Singapore's 'Fort Knox'.

Many moons ago, I visited the Whitley Road Detention Centre in the course of my work. With the latest high-tech security gizmos, it is impossible to conceive how one can escape from this place, unless it is done with the connivance of accomplices both inside and outside.

I totally agree with MM Lee's statement: 'I give him full marks for having won the confidence of his custodians...'

Mr Lee emphasised that it was 'not very good' for Singapore's security services. Of course, confidence in our security services has taken a bad dent internationally.

Now that a commission of inquiry has been established, we hope to get a detailed account of how such an escape is possible without connivance. Singaporeans, busy acquiring the 5 Cs and suffering en bloc fever to boot, should wake up and realise it takes only a split second for all goodies to vanish with careless policing.

Yes, Singapore is not infallible. As MM Lee says: 'It is stupid to believe that we are infallible. One mistake and we've got a big explosive in our midst...'

MM Lee's chilling comment: 'Keep him in Singapore and he can do not much harm as he needs explosives, needs to get a plan, mount it, get people to execute the plan, and that is easier done in Indonesia than in Singapore.

'So if he can get into Indonesia, he has his old networks, then we have to watch out for a return hit some time.'

The bottom line is that Singaporeans have to be alert all the time and not be complacent about security which most take for granted.

Just one villain can end all our hopes for a bright future. To those who criticise our Government for spending billions to keep and upgrade our security services, let this be a lesson for life. A complacent second is all that is needed for a wily villain to destroy all our hopes and hard work for a peaceful and fruitful future.

Ananda Perera