Mas Selamat, who has been on the run since last February after escaping from Whitley Road Detention Centre, has been caught by the Malaysia officials. Shortly after the arrest took place, the Malaysian officials informed Singapore but they requested that the matter be kept quiet for the time being. That being said, even Singapore's Cabinet ministers were not told about it until last Thursday. The reason why Singaporeans were not informed immediately of his captive was because the Prime Minister wanted to respect Malaysia's request. Also, they did not want to reveal the information of the informers. In my point of view, Singaporeans would be very anxious to follow up on the news because it had caused a big reaction when he escaped last year. By leaking the news to the public, it would definitely raise many questions and yet another reaction from the citizens. However, by keeping his arrest from the citizens, Singaporeans might feel that the Government have not been forthcoming and only informed at such a late date.
The reason why the news was revealed to the public was because some Singaporeans voiced their dismay over the news blackout on Mas Selamat's arrest by the Malaysia's authorities. Having said that, this tells me that the Government only choice to release the information about the capture of Mas Selamat because there was speculation over it. Would the government acknowledge that Mas Selamat was captured if there was no talk about it in the first place? That would remain as a controversy. I do agree that Singapore might have kept the news from the public as to respect Malaysia's decision, but to keeping the news from the public for a month is a little too long in my opinion. After releasing the news, more questions would definitely be raised as to why the information was kept from the citizens for so long. This is a miscommunication between then government and the citizens. If the government manages to clear up the issue of withholding information from the public for a certain period of time, the public's perception of the government would still remain the same and the trust would not waver.
However, I applaud Singapore's Internal Security Department (ISD) for following up this case since Mas Selamat went missing last February. The ISD never let their guard down and have been constantly working with the Special Branch to locate where Mas Selamat is. This shows that the officers were committed to their work and that they never gave up even though there were security lapses that enabled Mas Selamat to escape from the Whitley Road Detention Centre.
keeping information secret is important when investigations are in process. announcing mas selamat's capture in the news would give perpetrators who aided mas in his escape a head's up that the authorities are going to begin investigations and this would give them sufficient time to escape or to destroy evidence. so i feel that singapore's decision to keep things under wraps for the time being is a necessary move. the singapore government has made many questionable moves but i strongly believe that they all had good intentions behind them.
ReplyDeleteI agree with longlong. Internal security is a complex and highly sensitive business, and all its works have to be carried out under complete shroud of secrecy for good measures. For reasons mentioned by longlong, any premature release of information to the public is not a good communication move in Mas Selamat's case. It will undermine the efforts of the ISD to recapture him and may bring serious repercussions to the national security of Singapore.
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ReplyDeleteI believe what 'Swr' is referring to, is the cover up of Mas Selamat's capture, not escape(which is clearly stated in her title). Although one cannot deny or comprehend the importance of this security, it does have loopholes. And this is what she is trying to address.
ReplyDeleteI don't think anyone can go against her point that the efforts of ISD is already undermined when they keep the public in suspense of the capture. Singaporeans are bound to develop a sense of doubt if they are told to take precautions again. The system does remove a certain level of trust.
Yes of course the officers that followed up on the case to find Mas Selamat. It was a huge embarrassment for ISD that one of Singapore most dangerous men escaped from a toilet...
ReplyDeleteHowever I agree totally with what longlong said