Without help, money and transport means, and given the tightened security checks and controls on all border checkpoints and the coastline, he is unlikely to have fled Singapore

Said Police Assistant Commissioner Wong Hong Kuan at a media briefing on Sunday at the Special Operations Command's (SOC) Queensway Base: 'When he escaped on Wednesday, we believe he was unaided, and therefore he does not have access to money, vehicles, modes of transport.'

'That underpins our belief that he is still in the country. That's why we're conducting a very intensive search.'

He added: 'But we are taking nothing for granted in terms of where might be... we don't want to have any preconception or bias of what his intentions might be. In that sense, we are leaving no stone unturned in our pursuit of him.'

So far, all that has been known about the circumstances surrounding Mas Selamat's escape was that it took place at 4.05pm when he asked to use the toilet at the Whitley Road Detention Centre.

Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng on Sunday also shared that there is no evidence that the fugitive had fled Singapore.

Speaking to reporters during a visit to the SOC base, he also revealed that there was a 'physical breach' at the centre. It has since been rectified.

He declined to say more except to announce that an independent committee of inquiry chaired by ex-High Court judge Goh Joon Seng will get to the bottom of what happened that day.

Mas Selamat's breakout has sparked an unprecedented nationwide manhunt, with more than 1,000 police, soldiers, and elite Nepalese Gurkhas mobilised to comb all forested nature parks and unoccupied buildings across Singapore. On Sunday, the searchers with dogs trekked through the forests surrounding Lower Pierce Reservoir.

Police have also spoken with the JI militant's family members.

More than 54,000 posters and leaflets with the Mas Selamat's pictures and description have been placed at train and bus stations, shopping malls, housing estates and distributed by grassroots leaders and community volunteers. They urge members of the public to call the police if they spot him.

The three mobile phone operators here - SingTel, StarHub and MI - are also sending out messages with pictures of the fugitive to 3.9 million subscribers, police said.

Interpol has also issued a red alert for Mas Selamat on top of a previous orange alert. The red alert means that any law enforcement officer among the international police network's 186 member countries can help arrest him on the spot

As the search for the terrorist who had plotted to crash a hijacked plane into Changi Airport enters Day 5, police released more details to help the public identify him.

AC Wong clarified that Mas Selamat's limp in his left leg is evident only when he walks briskly or runs. Otherwise, he has the normal gait of any man.

Police also urged residents to keep watch on food, clothing and vehicles that go missing as the fugitive, who is a trained car mechanic and had evaded capture at least twice previously, may resort to stealing them to survive. He may also have changed his appearance or be in disguise.

So far, more than 300 people have called 999 or emailed the police with leads. No lead was too small to chase up, AC Wong said, even though they might prove to be false alarms later.

Deputy Assistant Commissioner Raymond Yeo, who leads the police Special Operations Command (SOC), said: "What is more damaging than his escape from the detention centre would be if he managed to escape out of Singapore and issued a victory statement.

'I wish I can say that I can guarantee we will get him but we will do our best and we will leave no stone unturned.

Read Commission of inquiry to probe JI terrorist's escape and Youth network pitches in to look out for JI escapee.