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PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong declared his full confidence in DPM Wong Kan Seng and ISD Director Pang Kin Keong on Tuesday, amidst calls from some quarters for the minister to step down to take responsibility for the embarrassing escape of terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari.
He told Parliament that he is satisfied with the actions taken by the Ministry of Home Affairs to rectify the security lapses that led to the Jemaah Islamiah leader's jailbreak, and that the minister and his top management were not to blame for what has happened.
He said when Mas Selamat escaped from the Whitley Road detention centre on Feb 27, MHA's immediate response was to try to track him down.
'The Ministry alerted the public within hours. DPM Wong updated Parliament the very next day, and apologised for the lapse. He also convened a Committee of Inquiry to find out the reasons Mas Selamat was able to escape. In parallel, CID launched an investigation,' noted PM Lee.
'I am satisfied that the Ministry has taken the correct remedial and disciplinary action, and that the Minister and top management were not to blamed for what has happened.
'DPM Wong Kan Seng and the Director of ISD both continue to have my full confidence,' he told the House,
He added that there would be no wtich-hunt, which would damage and demoralise the intelligence and security agencies.
But Mr Lee said Mas Selamat's escape could have been prevented and 'should never have happened.'
In his full account to Parliament on Monday, Mr Wong said Mas Selamat fled through an unsecured window in the toilet of the visitor's block.
The COI also cited a confluence of other critical factors, including surveillance cameras that were not working and a slow reaction from guards as contributing to the terrorist's flight.
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