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SINGAPORE : Religious leaders and grassroots leaders in Tampines have been roped in - in the hunt for fugitive Mas Selamat Kastari.
They call themselves the H.O.T team - or Help Our Tampines team. And now they want to get their community hot on the trail of JI fugitive Mas Selamat.
The team is made up of leaders from the churches and Muslim prayer groups, and community leaders from the Tampines constituency.
It was formed in October last year to respond to emergencies, to help monitor and calm the ground in times of crisis. It also wants to defuse any rumours or speculation that might divide the community.
Ms Irene Ng, MP for Tampines GRC, said: "We want to have a united front. Because we know that there's a search for Mas Selamat, and at the same time we hear some speculation that might divide the community ... here in Tampines Changkat, there's a large proportion of Muslim residents and we want them to know that we are united.
"We have no suspicion or no speculation about whether Mas Selamat had help from any different religious group. As far as we are concerned, Mas Selamat is a terrorist, and is a common threat to our community."
While the community has been urged to report any information on Mas Selamat, the police warn that it will not tolerate those who intentionally provide false information, as such actions distract resources and compromise on-going search efforts.
The police will charge a 50-year-old bus driver on Monday. The man had allegedly given false information to get rewards offered by various parties for Mas Selamat's arrest.
On 1 March, the man allegedly told the police he saw someone resembling Mas Selamat boarding his bus along Thomson Road near the Old Police Academy and alighting at Lentor Avenue the day the JI detainee escaped.
Later the same night, he said he saw 'Mas Selamat' riding pillion on a motorcycle, and getting off at a bus stop along Thomson Road near the Singapore Polo Club.
He gave the police the registration plate of the motorcycle. Acting on the information, the police combed Lentor Avenue. Checks were also made on the motorcycle owner, but these showed the bus driver had been involved in a road rage incident with the bike owner on February 27.
Still, if the public sees any suspicious person or activities, the police said they should call 999 immediately - no matter how trivial the information might seem.
All such information provided will be taken seriously. And as long as the information is provided in good faith, there is no cause for concern. - CNA/de
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