DPM S Jayakumar visits Puhaindran family to offer condolences
By Satish Cheney, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 29 November 2008 1452 hrs

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SINGAPORE: Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister S Jayakumar visited the Puhaindran family Saturday morning to offer his condolences.

Although he did not know Miss Lo Hwei Yen and her husband Michael Puhaindran personally, Professor Jayakumar said he knew Miss Lo's father-in-law Mr Stanley Puhaindran, who is a well-known and respected grassroots and community leader.

Miss Lo was taken hostage and killed in the Mumbai siege on Friday.

Professor Jayakumar said all Singaporeans share the family's pain even though they did not know the victim personally.

"I think all Singaporeans feel as if they know and are touched by this tragedy,” he said. “It could so easily have happened to any one of us or our loved ones because we all travel. So naturally the family is very distraught."

He added that the terrorist attack is a reminder that it could happen in Singapore and Singaporeans have to remain vigilant and prepared.

Professor Jayakumar said that he has spoken to security officials in Singapore and they will be in touch with their Indian counterparts later on to draw lessons from this tragedy.

He said there is a need to learn what Singapore can do to prevent similar incidents from happening, and if it does happen, what the nation can do to deal with it effectively.

- CNA/yb