Aware programme 'exceeded guidelines'

Aware programme 'exceeded guidelines'

Iswaran: Parents right to be concerned about sexuality education programme

By Theresa Tan & Amelia Tan
		Speaking after a community event yesterday, Mr Iswaran said the core sexuality programme devised by the MOE would continue in schools. -- ST PHOTO: JOYCE FANG

PARENTS are quite right to be concerned about some parts of the Association of Women for Action and Research's (Aware) sexuality education programme, Senior Minister of State for Education S. Iswaran said yesterday.

He said that after investigations were conducted into the programme, 'there's a sense that they have exceeded the guidelines'.

On Wednesday, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said that all sexuality education programmes run by external groups in schools will be suspended until a new, tougher vetting process for such programmes is put in place.

Among the suspended programmes was the controversial one by Aware. The ministry had said it had some suggested responses which are 'explicit and inappropriate, and convey messages which could promote homosexuality or suggest approval of premarital sex'.

Neither the ministry nor Mr Iswaran gave details of which parts of the Aware programme they were referring to.

The basic instructor's guide for Aware's programme, a copy of which was posted online, contained lines such as 'anal sex can be healthy or neutral if practised with consent and with a condom', and 'homosexuality is perfectly normal. Just like heterosexuality, it is simply the way you are'.

Speaking after a community event yesterday, Mr Iswaran said the core sexuality programme devised by the MOE would continue in schools.

This programme, he stressed, strives to keep sexuality education in line with mainstream values in Singapore.

It is based on the family as the basic unit and conservative mainstream values in Singapore, he said.

Asked yesterday if the ministry was negligent in taking so long to uncover the specifics of the Aware programme, Mr Iswaran explained that there are more than 350 schools here, and they are given considerable autonomy.

Teachers and principals are working on a range of matters, he said. This being the case, 'it is understandable that from time to time, there might be instances', referring to programmes which do not meet the ministry's guidelines.

Mr Iswaran's comments come slightly over a week after he said the MOE had not received any complaints about Aware's programme and saw no reason to intervene.

Two days later, however, the ministry said it would investigate.

Yesterday, when asked what prompted the change, Mr Iswaran would say only that some complaints were received.

The MOE has told The Straits Times it has received more than 100 e-mail messages and calls about the Aware programme since last week.

Contacted yesterday about how he decided to engage Aware, the principal of a secondary school said the school's head of pupil development met the group a few times to discuss the programme's content.

The principal - who did not want his name or that of his school to be used - then agreed to engage the group for one session.

After this, however, he decided to stop the sessions as 'some of the values communicated were different from what the school believes in and the programme was not a good fit'. He did not elaborate.

The principal added: 'Some organisations can talk until the cows come home about how well they can deliver the programme, but you never know how good the fit is until you actually try it.'

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Mas Selamat was PLOTTING HITS ON S'PORE

May 9, 2009

Mas Selamat was PLOTTING HITS ON S'PORE

He was 'planning a lot of things' when he was caught, says Najib

By Chua Lee Hoong, Political Editor
		The Indonesian authorities caught up with him in February 2003 on Bintan Island (left). A botched escape attempt during his imprisonment left him with a broken left leg and a permanent limp. -- ST PHOTO: AZIZ HUSSIN

JEMAAH Islamiah (JI) terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari was plotting attacks on Singapore at the time he was captured in Johor on April 1.

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak disclosed this to Malaysian media yesterday, hours after Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng told local media the JI leader escaped Singapore by swimming across the narrow stretch of water that separates Singapore from Johor, with the help of an 'improvised flotation device'. (See story below)

Datuk Seri Najib told Malaysian reporters: 'We apprehended him here (in Malaysia), his main focus at the time was Singapore. He was planning a lot of things in Singapore.'

He did not provide details, but said he had 'mentioned this' to Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong when they met in Pattaya, Thailand, on April 10-11 for the Asean summit that was eventually aborted because of protests.

Mr Lee was 'very happy and grateful that Malaysia has succeeded in apprehending Mas Selamat', said Mr Najib.

Mas Selamat, leader of a group of Singaporean JI members, escaped from the Whitley Road Detention Centre on Feb 27 last year.

He was captured in Johor on April 1, according to regional intelligence sources The Straits Times spoke to.

This was confirmed by Mr Wong at a press conference in Singapore yesterday, the same day The Straits Times broke the news of the capture.

Mr Wong said that as far as the authorities know, no local JI network was involved in aiding Mas Selamat's dash from Whitley to Singapore's northern shore.

Mr Wong, who is also Home Affairs Minister, said the Singapore Government did not inform the public of the capture earlier because doing so could jeopardise operational secrecy and perhaps even endanger sources of information.

The Malaysian Special Branch (MSB) and Singapore's Internal Security Department (ISD) both avoid premature disclosure that can compromise ongoing investigations, he noted.

'For example, sometimes, intelligence obtained from interviews of arrestees may put us on the trail of other terrorists. In such instances, premature public revelation of the first arrest would cause the other terrorists to flee, and compromise our ability to capture them,' he explained.

In the case of Mas Selamat, intelligence provided by ISD late last year helped the Malaysian authorities to make the arrest on April 1, he said.

Two Malaysian JI terrorists were arrested the same day, according to other reports.

'ISD has been following many leads. At the end of last year, one of ISD's own leads helped to pinpoint where Mas Selamat could be hiding. When it was generally satisfied that the information was credible, we passed the information to Malaysia,' said Mr Wong.

Replying to a question about the role of the Singapore public, he said a lot of information was provided but none proved credible, and it was ISD's own information that led to the breakthrough.

He noted that ISD officers had been in constant touch with their Malaysian counterparts, as with their other regional counterparts, to exchange information.

Mr Wong said the Malaysian authorities informed Singapore of the April 1 arrest 'soon after' it occurred.

Mas Selamat is currently being held under the Internal Security Act in Malaysia.

'The Malaysian authorities want to interview him, and in good time he will be returned to Singapore,' Mr Wong said.

He pointed out that Mas Selamat is still technically under a Detention Order issued by ISD and last renewed in March last year.

When Mas Selamat is returned to Singapore, he will be sent back to Whitley Road Detention Centre, he said.

'But today's Whitley Road is a very different detention centre from the one he fled. We have now made it very difficult for anyone to escape from there,' he said.

Mas Selamat's latest arrest is his third since 2003, and each time information provided by ISD proved crucial, noted Mr Wong.

The first time was in February 2003 when the Indonesian authorities caught up with him on Bintan Island. A botched escape attempt during his imprisonment left him with a broken left leg and a permanent limp.

He was not handed over to Singapore after he served his prison term and went missing for about five months.

He was captured a second time by the Indonesian authorities in early 2006 for using a fake identity card. This time, he was handed over to Singapore in February 2006.

He was held at the Whitley Road Detention Centre until his escape on Feb 27 last year.

Recalling Mas Selamat's past escapes, Mr Wong noted that he had told Parliament at its sitting on Feb 5 this year: 'Whether Mas Selamat is in Singapore or he has fled our country, we will hunt him down as we did before.

'And this is indeed what has happened,' he said.

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Govt will plug any weakness in Singapore's border security

Govt will plug any weakness in Singapore's border security
By Cheryl Lim, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 09 May 2009 1813 hrs

	Photos 1 of 1 Mr K Shanmugam (file pic)
	Video Mas Selamat's possible water escape routes Special Report • Mas Selamat Arrest

SINGAPORE: Singapore's Law and Second Home Affairs Minister K Shanmugam has said security along the country's borders is tight.

He stressed that if there is any weakness in Singapore's border security, the government will work towards plugging it.

Mr Shanmugam was speaking on the sidelines of a fund-raising event organised by New Hope Community Society.

He was responding to questions on whether border security measures would be enhanced, after it emerged that terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari had swum across the Straits of Johor from Singapore's northern coast using an improvised flotation device.

Mr Shanmugam said: "In certain stretches between Singapore and Malaysia, it's a few hundred metres across. And every day people try to get in. It's a constant challenge for officers. Wherever it can be plugged, of course we will do so, but it's a pretty tight system."

He also commended the close cooperation between the police forces of Singapore and Malaysia in the re-arrest of Mas Selamat.

He said Singapore's Home Team officers were very stretched with their duties when Mas Selamat escaped in February last year.

They had to put in extra effort beyond their call of duty to track him down.

But the arrest of the Jemaah Islamiyah leader shows the determination of the Internal Security Department (ISD).

- CNA/ir
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Mas Selamat's arrest puts sleepy town of Skudai in spotlight

Mas Selamat's arrest puts sleepy town of Skudai in spotlight
By Shaik Mohd Iqbal/Lip Kok Wai, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 09 May 2009 2338 hrs

	Photos 1 of 1 > " onclick="Next();" src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_next.gif" type="image" width="18" height="15">
	Video Mas Selamat's arrest puts sleepy town of Skudai in spotlight Special Report • Mas Selamat Arrest

SKUDAI, JOHOR BAHRU: Malaysian media reports say Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) leader Mas Selamat Kastari was arrested in Skudai during a dawn raid.

This immediately put the sleepy town near Johor Bahru in the spotlight.

What are the reactions of residents living there upon discovering the link between their town and Singapore's most wanted fugitive?

Located just 25 minutes away from the Causeway, Skudai is very near popular hangouts that Singaporeans frequent when they cross over to Johor.

Therefore, it is difficult to imagine that of all places, Skudai was where Mas Selamat had been hiding to evade arrest.

This too was the reaction of Tan Ah Eng, the Member of Parliament for Gelang Patah, the constituency which Skudai falls under.

She said: "I really feel surprised that he was here for the few months because I used to go down to the villages and visit the villagers because they are all in my constituency. They never mention to me that there are suspicious people around here.

"For me....it's (like) impossible for him to be here for so long and the villagers did not notice at all."

Indeed, some residents said an outsider like Mas Selamat should not have gone unnoticed in this Chinese-majority district.

Nonetheless, residents said they are relieved Mas Selamat has been caught so there is no chance for the JI leader to cause any harm.

However, some residents are concerned that Skudai may be associated with the JI terror network.

"Of course I'm worried, because he's a wanted man, so I'm worried...We thought he might be in Indonesia , but suddenly he's arrested here, so that's why we are shocked," said a Malay woman.

"Ya lah, I'm surprised, how come he can stay in the Skudai area? We are also going to be scared," said an Indian man.

Acknowledging these concerns, the area's MP shared some plans she intends to put in place to address the issue.

Ms Tan said: "I feel that it's impossible that my area is a JI breeding ground. But, no matter how, I will discuss or inform my village head and also the chairman of UMNO branch so that (they can) create awareness among the villagers to cooperate, to inform the police if there're any suspicious people around their area."

On a more positive note, many residents said now that Mas Selamat is in custody, it will be easier for Johoreans to go through the Woodlands checkpoint without having to go through additional checks.

- CNA/ir

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Mas Selamat's re-arrest not the end of Singapore's problem

Mas Selamat's re-arrest not the end of Singapore's problem
By Cheryl Lim, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 09 May 2009 1851 hrs

	Photos 1 of 1 > " onclick="Next();" src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_next.gif" type="image" width="18" height="15"> Mas Selamat Kastari
	Video Mas Selamat caught unawares Special Report • Mas Selamat Arrest

SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said Singapore's security challenge is to keep up its guard without getting fatigued or complacent.

In his first remarks on the capture of Mas Selamat Kastari, Mr Lee said Singapore must not think that the re-arrest of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) leader is the end of its problem.

He said the terrorism situation in Southeast Asia is under control, but the threat is far from over. He added that the price of security is eternal vigilance.

In a statement to the media on Saturday, the Prime Minister also said information about the capture of Mas Selamat on 1 April was not made public earlier, because of a prior agreement with the Malaysian authorities.

Mr Lee said he was told about the arrest by his Malaysian counterpart Najib Razak on 11 April during an impromptu four-eye lunch in Thailand's Pattaya after the ASEAN meeting was called off due to demonstrations.

He thanked Datuk Seri Najib for Malaysia's generous support and help and told him Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Wong Kan Seng had earlier told him of the arrest.

Mr Lee said he was happy and relieved that Mas Selamat had been found and arrested before he could do any harm.

But Malaysia had asked Singapore to keep this information quiet for the time being, so Singapore respected this and held the information very tightly in order not to jeopardise the operation.

But on May 7 afternoon during a weekly pre-Cabinet meeting lunch, Mr Wong received a phone call informing him that the Internal Security Department (ISD) had received a request from the The Straits Times to confirm a scoop that Mas Selamat had been arrested by the Malaysian authorities.

As the news had leaked, the Singapore government had no choice but to confirm the story.

Ministers who were present at the lunch were completely taken by surprise when Mr Wong told them that Mas Selamat had been arrested.

In his statement, Mr Lee also thanked all officers involved in tracking down Mas Selamat over the past year.

He said he never had a doubt that Mas Selamat would be found because he knew the quality and commitment of the ISD officers working on this.

He said the ISD had recovered quickly from the mistakes which led to Mas Selamat's escape from the Whitley Road Detention Centre in February last year.

Mr Lee also thanked the ISD and its Malaysian counterpart, the Special Branch, for working closely together.

- CNA/ir

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Mas Selamat's arrest will have little or no impact on JI splinter cells

Mas Selamat's arrest will have little or no impact on JI splinter cells
By Loh Chee Kong, TODAY | Posted: 09 May 2009 0743 hrs

	Photos 1 of 1 > " type="image">
	Related News • Politicians, community leaders welcome Mas Selamat's arrest • Malaysia says Mas Selamat under investigation for allegedly plotting against the country • Some Singaporeans express doubts over Mas Selamat's capture • Malaysia confirms Islamic militant Mas Selamat in detention • Singapore government confirms arrest of Mas Selamat • Singapore's JI leader Mas Selamat arrested in Malaysia Special Report • Mas Selamat Captured

SINGAPORE: Kudos to Singapore's Internal Security Department and the Malaysian Special Branch for the recapture of former Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) leader Mas Selamat Kastari.

And yes, his arrest has dealt a blow to a JI network already suffering from "a crisis of leadership", as S Rajaratnam School of International Studies’ (RSIS) senior fellow Antonio Rappa pointed out.

But hold the champagne — there is precious little time to rejoice, not with major events such as the Youth Olympics and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings to be held here in the near future.

Indeed, it would be foolish and ironic for Singaporeans to let their guard down now, especially since Mas Selamat's escape in February last year had drilled home important lessons on complacency.

Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng was the first to remind Singaporeans to stay vigilant. "Singaporeans must not think that just because Mas Selamat is arrested ... the threat of terrorism will not be there anymore," Mr Wong, who is also the Home Minister, said on Friday as he confirmed the arrest.

In the 13 months that Mas Selamat was hiding, presumably in Johor, terrorists elsewhere had been hogging the limelight: Attacks in Mumbai and Lahore killed more than 190 people and injured hundreds more.

Just last week, Singaporeans received the sombre news that one of its own, Mohammad Hassan Saynudin, was convicted in an Indonesian court for leading three other terrorists in killing a Christian-Indonesian teacher and plotting an attack on a bar frequented by non-Muslims.

His case offers the latest example of how splinter cells are posing to be the "bigger danger", said Ms Sidney Jones, a senior adviser with the International Crisis Group.

Noting how Mohammad Hassan single-handedly turned the cell from a "non-violent group into a violent group", Ms Jones told Weekend Xtra: "You only need one committed person who can then recruit and organise a much smaller group that may have had no affiliation to jihadist groups more generally."

The reality is that the recapture of Mas Selamat would have little or no impact on these splinter cells, said Ms Jones.

Dr Rappa added: "We also have to realise that there are larger problems looming in the horizon ... not just Mas Selamat, he was just like the flavour of the month."

To rehabilitate or not?

As and when the Malaysian authorities hand him over, Mas Selamat would be brought back to the Whitley Road Detention Centre, which has beefed up its security considerably since the lapses.

But as the authorities have stressed previously, the facility was designed to rehabilitate — and not punish — detainees.

Given his numerous escape attempts, Mas Selamat's belligerence — he was caught with two others while reportedly hatching another terrorist plot — has cast doubts on his willingness to abandon extremist leanings.

Said RSIS' Associate Professor Kumar Ramakrishna: "It is not even clear if he would accept rehabilitation as he is without doubt a truly hardcore 'true believer'. Religious rehabilitation is extremely difficult with such individuals."

Mr Muhammad Haniff Hassan, a prominent Muslim cleric, stressed that Mas Selamat "remains an ordinary human being who deserves a chance", despite his track record.

The general consensus around the world is that rehabilitation is an effective and humane tool to quell the extremist threat. Notable successes include the leaders of the Egyptian Al-Jihad and Islamic Groups — two of the largest groups in the world — who renounced violence in 1997 and 2007 respectively.

"(They) have now become the forefront critiques of Al Qaeda after more than a decade in prisons," said Mr Muhammad.

On rehabilitation, Ms Jones said: "The problem with these programmes, in general, is that the only way you know if they’ve been successful is if somebody is tempted to rejoin the network.

"In Singapore, when people get released, they are mostly not exposed to temptation ... Mas Selamat had the opportunity (to escape) and he took it — with vengeance."


- TODAY/so

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Aware: Standing by CSE and Moving On

Standing by CSE and Moving On

You may have already read or heard the news about the Education Ministry’s decision to suspend AWARE’s Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) programme in schools pending its new vetting processes for such programmes. This move also affects similar programmes offered by other organisations.

We sent the media our response yesterday and I thought I should also write to you regarding our position.

We stand by our CSE programme. As I’ve said to the press, we’ve been running the programme for two years without complains. The Ministry’s statement of April 28th confirmed it had not received any complaints from the students, or their parents, who have been through the programme.

What is currently at issue, as revealed in the Ministry’s statement yesterday, lies specifically with some of the suggested responses in the Instructor Guide that it found to be “explicit and inappropriate”.

We are prepared to review these and make any necessary changes so long as the principles and objectives of the CSE are not compromised. Yesterday’s statement from the Ministry has also noted that the CSE carries accurate information on STD and HIV and role-play practice for students to say no to sex.

What is important is that the CSE programme, and similar programmes that other organisations may have, continues to be available to students in Singapore . We hope to be able to resume the CSE programme before too long.

TOP GIRLS

Meanwhile, there is an immediate matter we need your help with – sale of tickets for the Gala evening of TOP GIRLS, a fund-raiser for AWARE scheduled for Saturday, 30 May. It will be a great opportunity to put aside more weighty issues and celebrate life and renewal together.

The Caryl Churchill play is among the best 100 plays of the 20th Century on the British National Theatre’s Millennium list. It won the Obie Award in 1983. The Wessex Theatre production is directed by Daniel Toyne, and has a seven member all woman cast playing 16 roles in all! The play has some coarse language but promises an evening of heart-warming truths, and laughter.

It is being staged from 27th May to 30th May. Tickets for the Gala Night on 30th May are at $80 each. This comes with an invite to a reception brought to us by Harry’s and WineGuru. See you all there!

Please call AWARE Centre 6779 7137 or email tickets@aware.org.sg to buy tickets. And, mark the date on your calendar!

Warmest Regards,

Dana Lam

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Alleged Singapore militant arrested in Malaysia

Alleged S’pore militant arrested in M’sia

The alleged leader of an Islamic militant group accused of plotting to crash an airliner in Singapore has been arrested in Malaysia after more than a year on the run.

Mas Selamat Kastari was caught on April 1 and has been held in custody by Malaysian authorities since then, Singapore’s Straits Times reported.

Security officials in both nations had no immediate comment to make on the reports.

Kastari is said to be head of the Singapore cell of Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), an underground group linked to Al-Qaeda and blamed for the 2002 Bali bombing and other bloody attacks in Southeast Asia.

Singapore officials alleged he was part of a plot to hijack an airliner in Bangkok and crash it into Changi airport - one of Asia’s busiest - in 2001 following the September 11 attacks that year in the United States.

Now 48, he escaped from his high-security detention centre in Singapore on Feb 27 last year after squeezing through a toilet window that had no bars and climbing over a fence.

The Straits Times cited “senior intelligence sources” as saying Kastari was arrested on April 1 in Malaysia’s Johor state, which neighbours Singapore.

It is believed he is being held for interrogation by Malaysian authorities under its own internal security law, which also allows for detention without trial.

The newspaper said he was thought to have been in Johor all the time since his escape, and that his re-arrest followed a joint operation by Malaysian and Singaporean security agencies.

Kastari had fled Singapore in December 2001 following an Internal Security Department operation against Jemaah Islamiyah. He was arrested in Indonesia in 2006 and handed back.

His escape made the strict city-state an object of ridicule and triggered a sweeping review of security measures.

Nine officers and guards were penalised for lapses that allowed Kastari to escape. Two were sacked and three demoted, but calls for a high-level shake-up were ignored by the government.

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Singapore terrorism suspect held

Singapore terrorism suspect held

A top terrorism suspect has been arrested in Malaysia more than a year after his escape from a prison in Singapore, authorities say.

Officials said Mas Selamat Kastari had been detained in a joint operation between Malaysia and Singapore in Malaysia's southern Johor state.

He is the suspected Singapore leader of Jemaah Islamiah, blamed for attacks including the 2002 Bali bombings.

His escape through a toilet window triggered a worldwide manhunt.

Mas Selamat Kastari is also alleged to have plotted to crash a hijacked plane into Singapore's international airport.

Walter Chia, a spokesman for the Singapore's embassy in Kuala Lumpur, said authorities were interrogating the suspect.

Singapore's Straits Times said he had been detained on 1 April.

Indonesian authorities arrested Mas Selamat Kastari on immigration violation charges in 2003.

He was handed over to Singapore in 2006, where he was detained under the city-state's Internal Security Act - a law which permits indefinite imprisonment without trial.

But he escaped in February 2008, managing to squeeze through the toilet window at his detention centre and climb over a fence while guards waited outside the bathroom.

Jemaah Islamiah, which has links to al-Qaeda, is blamed for the bombings on the Indonesian island of Bali in 2002 which left 200 people dead.

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Mas Selamat: Swam across Johor straits

May 8, 2009

Capture of Mas Selamat

Swam across Johor straits

		No date has been fixed to return Mas Selamat to Singapore. -- ST PHOTO

WANTED terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari swam across the Straits of Johor using an 'improvised flotation device' in his dash to freedom 'soon after' his escape from the Whitley Detention Centre on Feb 27 last year.

These details were disclosed by Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kang Seng at a press conference on Friday.

Mr Wong said that, as far as the authorities know, no local Jemaah Islamiah network was involved in aiding Mas Selamat's dash from Whitley Centre, where he was being held under the Internal Security Act.

Mas Selamat, 48, leader of the Jemaah Islamiah terror network was arrested in the outskirts of Johor Baru on April 1 by Malaysian authorities after a tip-off from the Singapore side late last year.

The Singapore government was informed of the arrest 'soon after' the fugitive was caught, said Mr Wong, who is also Home Affairs Minister.

No date has been fixed to return Mas Selamat to Singapore. 'The Malaysian authorities want to interview him and we will let them do their job and when they feel it's time to send him back to us, we will be happy to receive him back,' Mr Wong said.

He added that the arrest is the result of the strong co-operation between security agencies on both sides. Intelligence leads provided by Singapore's Internal Security Department late last year played a key role leading to the capture.

Mr Wong urged Singaporeans to stay vigilant and they should not think that the threat of terrorism has receded with the arrest of Mas Selamat.

'I have said it for years, that the threat of terrorism is real and that we are a prime target and therefore there's no question about letting our guard down,' he said. 'We must continue to be vigilant and continue to implement the security measures we have put in place.

'So we must not assume that just by the arrest of one person, Singapore will be safe from terrorist threat now. Apart from Mas Selamat, there are other JI members who are still out there and we haven't got them.

'And there could be many others that we do not know. And we don't know where they are, who they are and when they will come into Singapore.'

In Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Home Minister Hishamuddin Hussein on Friday confirmed that Mas Selamat has been captured and is being held under its Internal Security Act for interrogation.

'He was planning something that allowed us to arrest him,' said Mr Hishamuddin, declining to give more details on his arrest and whereabouts.

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Mas Selamat's Arrest a blow to JI

May 8, 2009

Capture of Mas Selamat

Arrest a blow to JI

		'He is an extremely skilled and dangerous terrorist and the fact that he has been recaptured improves the security situation in Singapore and the region.' -- ST

SECURITY experts applauded the arrest of Singapore's most wanted terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari in Malaysia, saying it is a 'very significant blow' to the militant Jemaah Islamiah (JI) terror network.

The fugitive militant was captured on April 1 while hiding in Johor, after more than a year after he bolted from the Whitley Road Detention Centre on Feb 27 last year.

Sources told The Straits Times that the 48-year-old was tracked down based on intelligence provided by Singapore's Internal Security Department (ISD), and a joint operation by Malaysia and Singapore's security agencies.

The Ministry of Home Affairs confirmed the arrest in a statement on Friday morning, but gave no other details.

Dr John Harrison, a security analyst at Nanyang Technological University (NTU), commenting on the Mas Selamat's arrest, told AFP: 'He is an extremely skilled and dangerous terrorist and the fact that he has been recaptured improves the security situation in Singapore and the region.'

Dr Harrison, manager of research at NTU's International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, said whatever morale boost the JI gained from the escape has now been erased.

'Secondly, what it does show is that there is a tremendous regional cooperation against JI and that as long as that continues the JI will not be able to successfully re-establish itself as the organisation that it once was.'

Dr Harrison praised Singapore and Malaysian authorities for their cooperation and said they had kept the news under wraps to get more intelligence away from the media glare.

Ms Sidney Jones, an analyst with the International Crisis Group, applauded the arrest, but said it was not an ending. 'In some ways the bigger danger will still come from the people at large,' she told AFP from Jakarta.

Dr Rohan Gunaratna, a security analyst at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, described Kastari's arrest as a 'very significant blow to the JI network because JI is trying to revive.'

'Mas Selamat is a key icon of the Jemaah Islamiah organisation, he is one of the most dangerous terrorists in this region, his arrest is a major setback to the JI organisation,' he said. -- AFP

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Mas Selamat's life in last eight years marked by escape and evasion

May 8, 2009

Living life on the run

Mas Selamat's life in last eight years marked by escape and evasion

By Leslie Koh
		SAF personnel combing thick vegetation opposite Mandai West Camp after Mas Selamat escaped from the Whitley Road Detention Centre in February last year. -- ST FILE PHOTO

ESCAPE and evasion appeared to have been virtually a lifestyle for the past eight years as far as Mas Selamat was concerned.

The man who set off one of Singapore's largest manhunts last year had eluded capture and escaped detention several times.

THE MAN, THE TERRORIST, THE FUGITIVE Jan 23, 1961: Born in Kendal, Central Java, and migrates with family to Singapore. The youngest of several siblings, Mas Selamat grows up in a kampung in Kaki Bukit and attends the English-language Kaki Bukit Primary School. 1980s: Moves to a flat in the Bedok Reservoir area and later marries Nurlela Sahali. They have five children, four boys and a girl. Believed to have worked as a bus mechanic. ... more

And throughout, he always stayed one step ahead of the authorities, displaying the kind of cunning that suggested why he had been chosen in 1999 by alleged Jemaah Islamiah (JI) terror network operations chief Hambali to take over the Singapore cell from Ibrahim Maidin, who was later detained.

In January 2002, when the Singapore authorities discovered plans by the JI to stage a series of terror attacks on local shores and swooped in on JI members here, Mas Selamat somehow got wind of it and fled the country.

Not, however, before taking time to damage a computer hard disk that contained potentially incriminating evidence, so that police could not get more information when they raided his home.

---

THE MAN, THE TERRORIST, THE FUGITIVE

Jan 23, 1961: Born in Kendal, Central Java, and migrates with family to Singapore. The youngest of several siblings, Mas Selamat grows up in a kampung in Kaki Bukit and attends the English-language Kaki Bukit Primary School.

1980s: Moves to a flat in the Bedok Reservoir area and later marries Nurlela Sahali. They have five children, four boys and a girl. Believed to have worked as a bus mechanic.

1990: Joins Darul Islam, a movement that had fought for an Islamic state in Indonesia in the 1950s. The Darul Islam is believed to have spawned several key leaders of the Jemaah Islamiah terrorist network, including its founders.

1992: Recruited into the religious council of the Singapore JI cell.

1993: Goes to Afghanistan for military training.

1998: Goes to Afghanistan again for one month, this time to observe the Taleban system of government.

1999: Alleged JI operations chief Hambali chooses him to take over as the leader of JI operations in Singapore.

December 2001: Flees Singapore after the Government cracks down on JI terrorists and nets 13 suspects. Makes his way to Medan and then Bali in Indonesia, via Malaysia and Thailand.

The arrests thwart plans to attack the Yishun MRT station and US naval vessels in Singapore.

In revenge, Mas Selamat is believed to have discussed with Hambali a plan to crash an American, British or Singapore plane into Changi Airport.

When arrested in Indonesia in 2003, Mas Selamat had a genuine Indonesian passport, issued in Surabaya, with a false identity. The name on the passport was given as Edi Haryanto. ST FILE PHOTO.

April 2002: Singaporeans hear of Mas Selamat Kastari for the first time, when then-Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong reveals the JI chief's involvement in the Changi Airport attack plot. Mas Selamat meanwhile is on the run, moving to places in Sumatra, Riau and Kundur island. His family joins him.

February 2003: He is arrested by Indonesian police in Tanjung Pinang, Bintan, after arriving with his wife and children from Riau. Singapore Home Affairs Ministry officers travel to Bintan to question him.

February 2003-August 2004: He is sentenced to 18 months' jail on charges of immigration violations and falsifying documents to enter Indonesia. He tries to escape from jail but breaks a leg, suffering a permanent limp.

August 2004-August 2005: Handed another 16-month sentence in Pasuruan prison for the same offences, he is released early because of remissions given.

January 2006: He is arrested again in Malang, 40km south of Pasuruan, also for carrying false identification.

February 2006: He is deported to Singapore, where he is served an Order of Detention and detained under the Internal Security Act.

Feb 27, 2008: Mas Selamat escapes from the Whitley Road Detention Centre.

Thousands of soldiers, Gurkhas and police officers fan out in a massive manhunt, border controls are tightened and countless posters and leaflets are distributed.

April 2008: Report of a Committee of Inquiry set up to investigate the escape finds several security lapses that allowed Mas Selamat to escape. They include a window with no grilles (below), guards who failed in their duties and CCTV cameras that were not commissioned. The Government comes under fire, with calls for officials and leaders to be punished.

May 2008: Nine officers and guards, including the commander of the detention centre and his superior, are penalised for the security lapses. Two are dismissed, three demoted and four relieved of duties or given reprimands and warnings. The Internal Security Department also corrects errors at detention centre and tightens security.

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Fugitive Mas Selamat nabbed

Updated: Friday May 8, 2009 MYT 1:56:39 PM
Fugitive Mas Selamat nabbed
By LOURDES CHARLES

KUALA LUMPUR: Suspected Singaporean terrorist Mas Selamat Kastari has been arrested by Malaysian police.

It is learnt the fugitive, who escaped from a Singapore maximum security detention centre on Feb 27, 2008 was arrested in Johor together with two others by Special Branch officers following intelligence sharing with the police forces of Indonesia and Singapore.
Mas Selamat Kastari

Sources said police here who had been on high alert for the suspected terrorist since his escape had gathered intelligence from their counterparts that Mas Selamat was hiding in Johor and was planning to create unrest in several countries in the region.

A massive operation was launched by the Special Branch with the help of other police departments here.

The month-long operation paid off when Mas Selamat who is said to be the leader of the Jemaah Islamiah (JI) in Singapore was arrested.

Police also seized documents and other paraphernalia that allegedly revealed their planned operation.

Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Musa Hassan confirmed the arrest.

"We are in touch with our international counterparts who were informed about the arrest as well as about what we have learnt.

"Our officers are still investigating their activities and networking," he added.

Mas Selamat was arrested in February 2006 and was sent to Singapore for investigations before he escaped in February last year.

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Mas Selamat’s capture: Why only inform us now?

Mas Selamat’s capture: Why only inform us now?

Friday, 8 May 2009

Terence Lee / Deputy Editor

IT TOOK 398 days for Mas Selamat to be caught on 1st April, but another 36 days for the public to be informed. What happened in between?

The Straits Times editors must be rubbing their hands in glee right now: they got the scoop of the year. Mas Selamat, the fugitive on the run, was found to be under interrogation by the Malaysian authorities. This was certainly no April Fool’s joke.

But while the ISD can finally pat themselves on the back for a job well done, it seems rather odd that they would want to hide their prize from public view, instead of displaying it proudly on the top shelf.
This could only mean two possibilities.

Firstly, the ISD did not know that Mas Selamat was caught until much later. Perhaps the Malaysian authorities chose to withhold the knowledge from the ISD until more information could be extracted from the fugitive. However, if such is the case, does this not amount to a lack of communication and cooperation on both sides?

Also, it is not known who knew about the capture first: the ISD or the Straits Times. Based on the freshest news reports, it appears that the ISD has been silent on this matter up till now.

But is this scenario likely? Perhaps not. It would be absurd for an organisation such as the ISD to not be informed about his capture. But then again, you never know.Secondly, the ISD knew about the fugitive’s capture, but chose to withhold the news from the public eye. Perhaps they believed that more information must be extracted first before it could be made known to Singaporeans. It used to be that the public was anxiously waiting for his capture in the days after his escape.

But as they waited, it soon became apparent that he was never going to be caught quickly. And soon the terrorist escaped not just Singapore, but from the minds of the public as well.

Perhaps that was the reason why the ISD saw no reason to inform the public as fast as they could. But surely such news should never be withheld, especially if it is about a man who could threaten the security and lives of Singaporeans with his very presence?

If this is true, then the Ministry of Home Affairs has not learned from the lessons of the past: the need for better communication and accountability with the public. It was the same scenario many months ago. The MHA was not forthcoming about information regarding the terrorist’s escape, and media practitioners and the public were left frustrated. But then, they had an excuse. Investigations were still ongoing, and the details had to be ascertained.

Now, there is no reason to withhold information. It does not take a lot of effort to say: Mas Selamat is captured, and is in the hands of the Malaysian authorities. It does not take a lot of time to verify if the captured prey really is the fugitive, even if he has gone through plastic surgery (should he chose to go to that extreme).

While this apparent oversight should not sully the news that Singapore’s Most Wanted Man is indeed caught, the MHA should pay heed to release details of his capture as quickly as possible, especially over the next few days.

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What makes us ready for a Singapore beyond Lee Kuan Yew

What makes us ready for a Singapore beyond Lee Kuan Yew

Sound values ingrained in system

SINGAPORE'S model of good governance, built on the principles of meritocracy, fairness and efficiency, has propelled it to great success.

Future leaders from my generation will have to ensure that this system continues to work well. Fortunately, we have what it takes due to the education we have received that is better than our parents'. That allows us to make the present system work even better.

Values such as industriousness, sensitivity towards cultural differences and strong community spirit continue to be embraced by this generation and are fundamentally ingrained into the Singapore system.

Because of this, Singapore will continue to thrive even after Lee Kuan Yew.

Ephraim Loy, 27, is a final-year social science student at Singapore Management University.

The dangers of playing it safe

MM LEE'S no-nonsense leadership has had an extremely profound impact on the psyche of Singaporeans, and this will not disappear over time. He will never 'leave' Singapore even after he has passed on.

However, many youth from my generation are now extremely deferential and respectful towards authority, and dependent on the Government to settle many aspects of life, such as the provision of jobs, educational opportunities and even life partners.

We have become so conditioned to following the tried-and-tested route in Singapore's secure and predictable environment that we might not be able to adapt quickly should global conditions change drastically or a sudden crisis strike this country, like the current economic crisis.

In these cases, Singapore runs the danger of losing much of what the previous generation has painstakingly built up.

Jonathan Kwok, 24, is an honours student in economics at the National University of Singapore.

Able to think global, but act local

SINGAPORE'S youth are more worldly today compared to our predecessors. We live in a time of affordable and accessible travel, with ample opportunities to broaden our horizons.

Some of my friends and I are fortunate to be able to travel and experience different cultures, politics and means of governance. This allows us to weigh the pros and cons of different systems, making us less narrow-minded and instead, capable of lateral thinking. At the same time, many of us realise that the grass is not always greener on the other side. Home is still where our hearts are, so we will embrace our overseas lessons with a mind to returning home to contribute to Singapore's future progress.

With these life experiences and outward-looking attitudes, I am confident my generation will continue MM Lee's good work and produce future leaders.

Tabitha Mok, 22, is a fifth-year medical student at the University of Western Australia.

Idealistic with dose of pragmatism

I AM confident that Singapore will not just 'survive' past MM Lee, or to quote Mr Ho Kwon Ping ('Singapore beyond Lee Kuan Yew', ST, April 22), 'muddle its way through' if the People's Action Party's leadership renewal goes awry.

Years of world-class education have given us the worldliness and vision to imagine bold change for Singapore - for the better. Hence, our constant thirst for success, desire for greater civil liberties, and courage to ask hard questions of those in power.

But we are not consumed entirely by our own idealism. It is tempered by a good dose of pragmatism. We know where our limits lie, and we know too much is at stake to start a riot. Instead, we try creative ways to work around the restrictions. We share ideas on blogs and Facebook. We set up campaigns to raise awareness about issues such as environmentalism.

I believe for every youth lost to apathy or emigration, there is one here willing to stand up and be counted when push comes to shove.

Eisen Teo, 24, is an honours student in history at NUS.

Material comforts spur us on

A LEGACY of MM Lee is the creation of a society that places economic progress at the fore of its priorities.

It is a system that emphasises a rigorous education, hard work, perseverance and developing intellect.

My generation has grown up in this environment and we cherish the material comforts this system engenders: stellar careers, nice houses and a beautiful, prosperous and peaceful city. We have come to expect these as the minimal standard of living, from which we constantly push for higher ground.

We want to earn bigger bucks, have nicer houses, get promotion at work and have a city that ranks higher year-on-year on the 'Best Cities' list. We are trained to be competitive and reap what we sow. We don't want to jeopardise our material comforts by backsliding on our work ethic.

This is what will compel us to continue striving hard to move Singapore forward - beyond MM Lee or any political party.

Jason Zhou, 23, is a third-year economics student from SMU. He is currently on exchange at Wirtschärftsuniversität Wien in Vienna.

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Envelope of white powder meant for senior pastor

Envelope of white powder meant for senior pastor

SCDF confirms powder is not hazardous

By Arul John

May 08, 2009

FIRST, some former Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) exco members received death threats. TARGET? It is not known if Rev Derek Hong's name is on the envelope sent to his church's office. ST FILE PICTURE Now, the senior pastor of the church where six of them attend has also received something that smacks of the anthrax powder scare in the US eight years ago. An envelope containing white powder was sent to the Church of Our Saviour office at Margaret Drive, in Queenstown, last Thursday. The envelope was addressed to the senior pastor of the Anglican church but it was not known if the name of the pastor, Reverend Derek Hong, was indicated. Police spokesman William Goh said church staff alerted the police after receiving the envelope. He said the police and a Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) hazardous materials team were then sent to the church. The SCDF team examined the envelope and its contents and found the powder to be non-hazardous, said SCDF public affairs director N Subhas. Police investigations are ongoing. Since 2001, there have been several scares involving white powder worldwide. Fear The fear was that the powder could have been anthrax spores, which can cause death if inhaled. A source said he and a few other people were with Rev Hong several days after the incident when he told them about the envelope. He said RevHong did not say if any letter had accompanied the envelope but thought it was connected to the Aware saga. The source said: 'We were aghast.' The church spokesman told The New Paper that he did not know about the incident but added that RevHong looked all right when he met him yesterday. The discovery of the envelope came amid the tumultuous events surrounding Aware. On 28Mar, a large group of new Aware members attended its annual general meeting and elected a team of unknowns into power. Mrs Claire Nazar, who was elected Aware president, quit after just 11 days in office, and was replaced by Ms Josie Lau. It was later discovered that Ms Lau and several of the new leaders attend the Church of Our Saviour, which takes a strong stand against homosexuality. Senior lawyer Thio Su Mien, who also attends the church, later revealed she had encouraged the women to join Aware because she felt it was promoting lesbianism and homosexuality. On 23Apr, the new Aware leaders said that they and their families had been threatened and even received death threats. They reported them to the police. Ms Lau told the media that a death threat addressed to her husband, Aware affiliate member Alan Chin, and to Aware honorary secretary Jenica Chua, was sent to Aware's office on 14Apr. Many people, including members of the Aware old guard, condemned the death threats. Four days before the church received the envelope, in a sermon on 26Apr, RevHong said the church was against discrimination of homosexuals in areas where rights are extended to every citizen, but added that they were against any form of homophobic expression. He said that the church was against the promotion of the lifestyle and any programme that promotes homosexual behaviour as normal. He said: 'It's not a crusade against the people but there's a line that God has drawn for us, and we don't want our nation crossing that line.' On 30Apr, the president of the National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS), Dr John Chew, said NCCS did not condone churches getting involved in recent matters related to Aware, nor did it condone pulpits being used for the purpose. The day after Dr Chew's statement, Rev Hong said he regretted using the pulpit to mobilise support in the ongoing dispute over the Aware leadership. He said his actions on the pulpit had aroused some tension and he would be more sensitive to similar situations in future. At an acrimonious extraordinary general meeting on Saturday, Ms Lau and the rest of the Aware exco were ousted, and a new executive committee led by Ms Dana Lam-Teo took over.

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Singapore government confirms arrest of Mas Selamat

Singapore government confirms arrest of Mas Selamat
By Asha Popatlal, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 08 May 2009 1049 hrs

SINGAPORE: The Singapore government has confirmed the arrest of fugitive Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) leader Mas Selamat Kastari who escaped from the Whitley Road Detention Centre more than a year ago.

In a statement on Friday, Singapore's Home Affairs Ministry said: "Mas Selamat has been arrested by the Malaysian Special Branch (MSB) in a joint operation between the MSB and the Internal Security Department (ISD)."

Deputy Prime Minister and Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng said Singapore is happy that Mas Selamat has been arrested.

Singapore's Internal Security Department (ISD) had worked hard and looked at every lead, sharing information with its Malaysian counterpart.

Mr Wong, who was speaking to reporters at the Home Affairs Ministry on Friday, added that the Malaysian Special Branch has done excellent work.

Both parties have a longstanding cordial relationship which resulted in the arrest of Mas Selamat on April 1.

For now, the JI leader will remain in Malaysia as the authorities there want to continue interviewing him.

The deputy prime minister said Singaporeans must maintain vigilance and not let their guard down following Mas Selamat's arrest as the terror threat is real and Singapore is a prime target.

With Singapore's long coastline, Mr Wong said Singaporeans must not assume the country is safe as there are other JI members who have not been detained.

He said Mas Selamat will be sent to the Whitley Road Detention Centre again when he is brought back to Singapore.

Mr Wong added that the centre is now a different place compared to what it was when the JI leader escaped on February 27 last year.

He also revealed that Mas Selamat had used an improvised flotation device to escape from the north shore of Singapore to Johor Bahru.

Separately, Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry S Iswaran said the arrest of Mas Salamat is a welcome piece of news to Singaporeans.

He said the JI leader's arrest speaks highly of security forces involved in the operation.

"It's a tribute to the professionalism of the intelligence agencies. They worked across borders with their partners to secure his eventual arrest."


- CNA/so

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Singaporeans cheered by news of Mas Selamat's arrest

Singaporeans cheered by news of Mas Selamat's arrest
By Leong Wee Keat, TODAY | Posted: 08 May 2009 1200 hrs

	Photos 1 of 1 > " onclick="Next();" src="http://www.channelnewsasia.com/images/butt_next.gif" type="image" width="18" height="15"> Authorities hunting down Mas Selamat Kastari in 2008. (file photo by TODAY's Koh Mui Fong)
	Related News • Singapore government confirms arrest of Mas Selamat • Singapore's JI leader Mas Selamat arrested in Malaysia Special Report • Mas Selamat

SINGAPORE: It came as a pleasant surprise for many Singaporeans as they awoke on Friday morning to the news that the country's most wanted fugitive, Mas Selamat Kastari, has been captured.

With Influenza A (H1N1) dominating recent headlines, almost all 20 Singaporeans TODAY spoke to said they didn't see Mas Selamat's capture on the radar.

Mr Lim Cheng Heng, who read the news while having his breakfast, probably expressed the sentiments of many when he said: "I thought he had disappeared."

Another Singaporean, Mr Raymond Quek, had believed that the conspiracy theories he had heard were true, until he read the news of the fugitive's capture.

"I thought he had died and we would not hear from him again," said the retiree. "But it is good that he has been caught."

Mas Selamat's capture not only made local headlines, but also found its way to foreign news outlets in Australia and India.

It is believed that he was nabbed in the outskirts of Johor Baru and is now being held by the Malaysian authorities for interrogation.

While Singaporeans were glad to hear of Mas Selamat's capture, many had questions as to how he ended up in Malaysia. For some, the news that he was arrested in Johor came too close for comfort.

"Why was he in Malaysia? Was he planning something that we may not know of?" wondered auditor Sophia Loh.

Mr Tan Hee Joek added: "Was he communicating with someone here? I thought he would have escaped further, say Indonesia."

It is not known why Mas Selamat was in Malaysia. It is also not known why even though he was arrested six weeks ago, the Malaysian authorities have yet to announce the capture.

Financial planner Vincent Tan added: "I thought the authorities said they had no news of his whereabouts. It is definitely a surprise and I hope the authorities could share with us the details of his escape."

Ms Cheng Li Min also wondered how Mas Selamat escaped Singapore given that authorities had shut down the country's borders hours after his escape from the Whitley Road Detention Centre.

"I do hope the authorities could share with us what happened," she said.

It is not known how he slipped out of Singapore or when he entered Malaysia.

Mr Chia Wei Ping felt the authorities did well in tracking down the fugitive so quickly.

"Some fugitive go on the run for years and can't be found. They did well in making sure he is caught before he causes any damage," said the technical officer.

Teacher Eugene Ng felt that the news of Mas Selamat's capture could not have come at a better time.

"With Singapore downgrading from Orange to Yellow Alert for the flu virus, I think this comes as great news."


- TODAY/so

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