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SINGAPORE: Did Malaysia know that Mas Selamat Kastari had entered the country months ago, but allowed him to remain free so that he might lead the authorities to other militants - as a media report suggests?
Malaysian Home Ministry Secretary General Mahmood Adam was reported to have told The Associated Press in an interview that officials were aware Mas Selamat had fled to Malaysia from "the moment he came to our country".
Police monitored his movements instead of arresting him at once as "the most important (thing) sometimes is not the particular target" but "the networking" and who was behind him, Mr Mahmood reportedly said. The fugitive was recaptured on April 1 in Johor, more than a year after escaping from detention.
In response to Today's queries, a Singapore Ministry of Home Affairs spokesman said a joint operation between the Internal Security Department and its Malaysian counterpart had pursued a lead for "several months" that Mas Selamat could be in Malaysia.
"But it was not until April 1 when the Malaysia Security Branch raided a suspect hideout arising from investigations into the lead, that it was confirmed that it was indeed Mas Selamat who was hiding there.
"We have just re-checked this sequence of events with our Malaysian counterparts," he said.
Mr Mahmood reportedly declined to say if the authorities are on the verge of making further arrests, but stressed that Malaysia remained "very safe and secure".
Malaysia's government last week announced it would hold Mas Selamat for two years under a security law that allows for detention without trial. Prime Minister Najib Razak said officials want to obtain more information from Mas Selamat, calling him a "threat to national security". - TODAY
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