Malaysia says Mas Selamat under investigation for allegedly plotting against the country
By Channel NewsAsia Malaysia Bureau Chief Melissa Goh | Posted: 08 May 2009 2148 hrs

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	Special Report • Mas Selamat Arrest

KUALA LUMPUR : Malaysian authorities have confirmed that suspected JI operative Mas Selamat Kastari, who is currently under investigation for allegedly plotting against the country.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein however refused to disclose his whereabouts or divulge any details of his arrest.

The arrest of Mas Selamat reportedly over a month ago was kept under wrap by the Malaysian authorities.

Speaking at his office in Putrajaya, the Malaysian home minister explained why.

"You have to understand there are certain things that are of national interest. Anything revealed may affect investigations done by Malaysian intelligence, (and) may also affect relationship with other countries, in this particular case," said Home Minister Hishammuddin.

"I understand there's a time for openness,... (but there's) a need to make sure sensitive things do not go out, which may involve others other than the individual we are discussing right now," he added.

Both the home minister and police chief Musa Hassan refused to disclose where and how the elusive terror suspect was captured.

Mas Selamat had escaped detention three times, and is wanted by the authorities.

"He was planning something which allowed us to arrest him. I can't go into details because it’s too sensitive," said Home Minister Hishammuddin.

Sources told Channel NewsAsia that the arrest of three JI suspects by Malaysian authorities in early March could have led to the capture of MAS Selamat.

One of the suspects Agus Salim is said to be running a restaurant outside Johore Bahru, near where Mas Selamat was picked up. Agus is wanted by Indonesia for his involvement in bank robberies.

The Malaysian police intelligence are now holding Mas Selamat for investigations.

They added that his arrest would not have been possible without the cooperation of Singapore and Indonesian counterparts

While Malaysia appears to be under no hurry to turn Mas Selamat over to Singapore, Minister Hishammuddin denied that the story was leaked by Singapore in order to put pressure on the Malaysian authorities to do so. If they were, Malaysia will stop cooperating with its southern neighbour. - CNA /ls