Escape of Mas Selamat: A wakeup call for Singapore and Singaporeans
How often do normal, petty criminals escape from jails to avoid a simple 3-week jail term in Singapore?
Not often.
How often then, do you see big time criminals escaping from detention and jail in Singapore?
More often it seems.
Doyou remember the 'Huang Na' case that got everyone is Singapore to sit up and constantly listen out for the latest news on the progress of the investigation of the murder? Do you remember the public outcry when Took Leng How was arrested for the crime, and on the 21st of October 2004, escaped under police custody? He had used the 'toilet ruse' by pretending he needed to go to the toilet, before escaping through the back door.
It should have rung alarm bells then for the Singapore Police Force, credited for Singapore's low crime rate. They should have tightened their security to make sure no criminals escape, especially a murderer.
How then did a terrorist, JI leader who planned to bomb Changi Airport and cause a catastrophic blow to Singapore escape after being caught and his plan, foiled?
The question is: how did this happen? Since our police force is not a small and inefficient one, then perhaps it was a case of complacency.
Second Minister for Defence and Minister for Manpower Dr Ng Eng Han had said during Total Defence Day this year: "Guard against complacency." How ironic is that just about 2 weeks later, is was complacency that led to the escape of Mas Selamat. Complacency is not to be overlooked, it is not checked, as it has proved to result in a serious breach of security which now involves Interpol and the world.
This should be a long due wake up call for the Police Force and all Singaporeans. As the lives of Singaporeans get better, more Singaporeans are complaining about everything and expect the government to solve the problem for them. When the streets of Singapore are dirty, Singaporeans complain the cleaners are not doing their job, but how many of us know cleaners work harder than us and arrive as early as 5am in the morning to clean up after us?
We have already lost to Malaysia, complacently regarded by many Singaporeans as our backward neighbour', in terms of airport rankings by different organisations in different categories since 2001. Although Singapore Changi Airport (SCA) still holds an edge over Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) overall, the fact that KLIA is fast catching up with SCA clearly tells us that Malaysia is not our 'so-backward-neighbour' anymore.
Let this incident be a true wake up call for Singaporeans and the next generation to come. Our complacent mindset no longer has a place on the global platform and this mindset has to be changed before it is too late and Singapore loses its competitve edge on the global platform. Singapore still does have talent, and the ability to attract foreign talent, but to ensure progress for many years to come, we will have to rally together to break away from our comfort zone to compete for a better future.
References
-skytrax 'Winner 2007' 'AIRPORT OF THE YEAR'. Retrieved March 2, 2008, from SKYTRAX, THE WORLD AIRPORT AWARDS Web site: http://www.worldairportawards.com/Awards_2007/Airport2007.htm
-Ang, Shawn (2008, 02 12). Dr Ng Eng Hen: "Guard against complacency". Retrieved March 2, 2008, from MINISTRY OF DEFENCE SINGAPORE Web site: http://www.mindef.gov.sg/imindef/publications/cyberpioneer/news/2008/February/12feb08_news.html
-2006: Accolades Received by Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore / Singapore Changi Airport . Retrieved March 2, 2008, from CHANGI AIRPORT SINGAPORE Web site: http://www.changiairport.com/changi/en/about_us/awards_accolades/2006.html?__locale=en
-(2008, 03 01). KLIA Awards & Recognitions. Retrieved March 2, 2008, from WIKIPEDIA Web site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KLIA_Awards_%26_Recognitions
