SINGAPORE: It's been more than six weeks since Mas Selamat escaped. But even as Singaporeans criticise the lapse by the country's security agencies, Deputy Prime Minister S Jayakumar called on them not to overlook the other good work done by the agencies.

Professor Jayakumar was speaking at the opening of the Second Asia-Pacific Programme for Senior National Security Officers (APPSNO) on Monday, also attended by speakers like Pulitzer-winning author Laurie Garrett.

Some 24 years ago, the Irish Republican Army (IRA) launched an attack on then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. She survived the attack but five others were killed in the bomb blast.

After the attack, the IRA claimed responsibility for the attacks and issued a warning saying they only had to be lucky once whereas security agencies had to be lucky all of the time.

Recalling that incident, Professor Jayakumar who is also Co-ordinating Minister for National Security said that is something security agencies have to always bear in mind.

This warning reminded Professor Jayakumar of the Mas Selamat escape.

Mr Jayakumar said he understood Singaporeans' reaction of shock and alarm because there must have been a serious security lapse at the detention centre for the escape to happen.

He said: "Internal Security Department (ISD) officers who have been working on the JI case must feel keenly, even more so than the public, what a serious setback Mas Selamat's escape has been.

“It is a blot on the security agencies copybook, a dent in Singapore's reputation, and a reverse in keeping Singapore secure from (a) terrorist attack. But the ISD officers have not been paralysed or demoralised."

The search and investigations into the escape have been ongoing.

While Professor Jayakumar had no conclusions yet from the inquiries taking place, he commended the thousands of officers involved in the efforts to locate the fugitive.

He added that he was heartened by Singaporeans' efforts in coming together for the search. And other conference speakers also spoke on this aspect of community involvement.

Rachel Griggs, Head, Identity Programme, Demos, said: "This is not a phenomenon that can be generalised globally - different in each place, in each town, in each part of town. And I think what's critical to imagining we have a long-term solution to the current terror threat is really embedding our responses, not in national and international responses but really working very closely on the ground."

And with the world facing other major threats like a possible avian flu pandemic, the emphasis on community is just as important.

Laurie Garrett, Senior Fellow for Global Health, Council on Foreign Relations, said: "There is no government on earth that will have enough money, enough personnel, enough organisational capacity to take care of everybody. It will literally come down to "Do you know your neighbours? Do you know who's needy? Are you there to help them? Do you know how to take care of your family?” And then when the dust is settled, we will see what's left of government."

18 countries are participating in this conference. - CNA/vm