| |
SINGAPORE: Singapore's authorities are not letting up in their efforts to nab Jemaah Islamiyah leader Mas Selamat Kastari, who escaped from Whitley Road Detention Centre on Wednesday.
Officers are working round the clock to man possible exit points.
However, enhanced security checks have also led to massive congestion at Singapore's main land checkpoints.
In a departure from the norm at Woodlands Checkpoint, officers were clad in bulletproof vests and every vehicle headed for Malaysia is thoroughly checked.
And one thing the new system did yield, underscoring the thoroughness of the checks, was an illegal immigrant and possible overstayer in the luggage compartment of this tour bus.
Tan Kong Hui, Dy Commander of Counter-Terrorism & Security at Woodlands Checkpoint, said: "We have increased our checks for all modes of transport, be it bus, lorries, buses, motorcycles. We have conducted very thorough checks on travellers, their luggage and all vehicles. We have also increased our manpower to enhance security checks."
But the enhanced security also led to massive traffic congestion.
Truck drivers who do regular Singapore-Malaysia trips said they had been stuck since the previous evening, with some taking up to 15 hours to get cleared.
A lot of the truck drivers said that they have been in their vehicles from Thursday and were unable to get cleared.
In fact, many of them said they haven't had a chance to sleep, shower or even get some food.
The congestion had a domino effect on workers in the area and many opted to walk instead.
Security was also enhanced along Singapore's shoreline, where people have been known to bypass official immigration channels. -CNA/vm
|
