Let's not be afraid to separate the extremists from �the majority moderates without offending the religion. Muslim volunteers have come out in support of hunting down this escaped terrorist detainee. They know the difference between bad and good.

If his escape has taught us anything, it is about how we must ensure extremism is not taught and spread among our religious faithful.

Instead of setting up a council to look into inter-religious and racial issues, shouldn't we be looking at how we deal with deviant teaching and extremism? Do we �now learn to fight the war on terror from a different front?

Over the years, changing events have taught us to move from a conventional military defence to the concept of Total Defence. Perhaps, the war on terror should move in the same direction.

Terrorism is no longer just the �purview of the Special Forces. It should now encompass the citizens at large. Believers of any religion must differentiate right from wrong teaching.

So what if Mas Selamat is caught? �Will we be safe? �For every one like him caught, there are hundreds in training in the jungles of our neighbouring countries or in the ideological camps in the Middle East.

How many do we intend to lock up? Terrorism will not disappear when Osama bin Laden dies or if Al-Qaeda is disbanded. �There will always be others who will take on their mantle and �struggle.

We may have lost part of the battle with Mas Selamat's escape, but we have not lost the war on terrorism. Let's not behave as though we have.

Singapore must move on because there is another battle ahead. Mas Selamat's escape is only the beginning.

Thomas Ling