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DEPUTY Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng was in the midst of answering questions in Parliament on Feb 27 when he got an SMS on his mobile phone alerting him to Mas Selamat Kastari's escape.
'I was shocked and disappointed' when first informed of the Jemaah Islamiah's breakout, he said in Parliament on Monday.
'There is no doubt that Mas Selamat's escape is a major setback for ISD and for MHA. It is a dark stain on the record which ISD has achieved in the fight against terrorism,' said Mr Wong, who is also the Home Affairs Minister.
The ISD and Gurkha Contingent (GC) officers also felt acutely disappointed 'because they have fallen short of the high standards that Singaporeans have come to expect from them', said Mr Wong, adding that the security lapse at the Whitley Road detention centre 'came as a rude and painful shock to them'.
'All the more when the mistakes have turned out to be so simple as to appear silly and incredible,' he said.
Mr Wong pointed out that it was the ISD which uncovered the clandestine JI terrorist network and its links to the Al-Qaeda in 2001. Before that, nobody had heard of the militant organisation.
He also credited ISA with thwarting 'an otherwise catastrophic attack' planned for early 2002 on Singapore when it disrupted the JI operational cells collaborating with Al-Qaeda operative Mansour Jabarah and JI bomb maker Fathur Rohman Al-Ghozi, both of whom were later arrested by foreign governments.
ISD's intelligence has also significantly supported the investigation into the Al-Qaeda and JI networks in the region and other parts of the world.
'Even now, no doubt with morale sorely affected, the ISD and its officers continue to also pursue every lead and intelligence to further their counter-terrorism operations which have kept us all safe,' said Mr Wong.
But he hastened to add: 'Do not misunderstand me. I mention these facts not to absolve or excuse the ISD from responsibility for its officers' mistakes or lapses. I mention these facts because we need to be fair and balanced in our judgement and not throw the baby out with the bath water.'
'Yes, this episode of Mas Selamat's escape is a bad mistake and officers who did not carry out their duties as required will be held accountable.'
'But ISD, the organisation and the many dedicated and committed officers who continue to serve in it, are resolved to pick themselves, recover their spirits and move forward relentlessly in their national mission. We must support them in this.'
Mr Wong also thanked the SAF and the Home Team for their commitment and efforts over the last seven weeks in the search for the fugitive, as well as the scores of Singaporeans who have rallied behind the efforts to help track down Mas Selamat.
Read also:
Escape a 'painful wake-up call', shows complacency: DPM
Minister releases details of Mas Selamat's escape
Confluence of three factors helped Mas Selamat to escape
No one will face criminal charges for Mas Selamat's escape: CID
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