But seven Singaporeans contacted last night, including MPs, remain incredulous at the chain of security lapses at the Whitley Road Detention Centre on Feb 27.

And while they agree with the next steps recommended by the Committee of Inquiry, they are eager for more answers.

For instance, how will the Whitley detention centre balance tighter security with efforts to rehabilitate detainees, asked Madam Cynthia Phua (Aljunied GRC).

And how will the authorities determine when a 'hardcore' terrorist is impossible to rehabilitate?

Referring to Mas Selamat's reputation as a 'hardcore' Jemaah Islamiah member, Mr Arthur Fong (West Coast GRC) said: 'He was given all these privileges in the detention centre, at what point do you say that he needs to be in prison instead?'

But such questions aside, all were satisfied with Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng's 'frank and upfront' explanation of how events unfolded.

Said security academic Kumar Ramakrishna: 'The explanation was quite extensive and quite a fair bit of information was divulged.

'It should reinforce people's confidence that the Government is very serious about hunting for him.'

He applauded, in particular, the suggestion for a new detention centre at Changi Prison.

While Dr Lim Wee Kiak (Sembawang GRC) agreed with the committee's suggestions - to include regular security audits for instance - he wished it had also addressed issues such as why inaccurate information had been released to the public

Mr Wong had acknowledged the need to release accurate information, such as on what Mas Selamat was wearing. But he reminded that the officers were also receiving a lot of confusing information at the time.

Human resources manager Mohd Rashed Badarudin, 34, said that he wanted a sense of how the supervisors of those involved in this incident would take responsibility for the episode:

'It's quite unbelievable that there were no back-up CCTV cameras while the system was being tested. Whose decision was this?

'So I'd be uncomfortable with just blaming those who were taking orders, like the guards. Their higher-ups should take ownership.'

And ultimately, the biggest question of all still remains: Where is Mas Selamat?

Ms Leong Sze Wei, a manager in a statutory board, asked: 'On what basis do they insist that he is still in Singapore?'

Associate Professor Kumar also called for more light to be shed on the 'intelligence' that DPM Wong said the authorities have which indicates that Mas Selamat remains here.

'Of course, for security reasons, they do not want to give out too much. At the same time, the public is a great resource - they are so many extra eyes and ears to keep a look out for the man,' he said.

Ultimately, said Muslim community leader Imam Hassan Alatas, Mr Wong has resolved most of the questions.

'But until Mas Selamat is caught, this episode will always linger in people's mind. So it's not resolved yet.'

LYNN LEE AND LI XUEYING