Wong "Post-Situation Nostradamus" Kan Seng

15 April 2009
The ISD Intelligence Service Promotion Ceremony - Speech By Mr Wong Kan Seng, Deputy Prime Minister & Minister For Home Affairs, 15 April 2009


It has been and continues to be a testing time for the Department. I understand that at one time or another, officers from all the various commands have been deployed to work on the case which for some, involved taking on an entirely new type of assignment for the first time in their career. I have been regularly updated on the Department’s efforts to track Mas Selamat Kastari down. I have no doubt of your determination. I have confidence that with patience – which has always been a virtue of the Department – we will recapture him. The keen sense of fellowship and camaraderie among ISD officers, of being one family through thick and thin, that I have seen particularly during this trying episode, will see you through this, and make all of you even stronger.

Most importantly, I am happy to see that ISD officers have not allowed the setback to dishearten or distract you from your mission of countering the multi-faceted security threats we face. Even as you continue to hunt for Mas Selamat Kastari, you have been equally unrelenting in monitoring and tackling other security threats, at times, I know, stretching yourselves beyond the limits.

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The above was on 15th of April, 14 days after the arrest of Mas Selamat:

Wong said this here today as his ministry confirmed the arrest of Mas Selamat, saying the terrorist had been arrested by the Malaysian Special Branch police on April 1.

What happened? Did the Malaysian authorities not bother informing the Singaporean authorities? That can't be, for they - supposedly - acted upon leads provided by the Singaporean Internal Security Department who have a "long standing co-operative cordial relationship" with the Malaysian Special Branch.

Give me a fucking break.

And I can just see how this might get an "F" grade and a "See me. Out of point." remark:

Q: How do you feel, how does ISD feel, now that it took Malaysia's help to have Mas Selamat arrested?

"I'm glad that he is now arrested. We were informed of the arrest soon after the arrest by the Malaysians on the 1st of April and I also reported that to the Prime Minister. As I have said before, that so long as we can find some leads on him, some time or other, we will find him.

He was arrested by the Indonesians in Feb [January] 2003 arising from the leads developed by the ISD and shared with the Indonesians. Then he was released prematurely when he was serving his sentence in prison for an immigration offence.

And, again from ISD's leads which were shared with the Indonesians, the Indonesian Police arrested him in Jan 2006. Eventually, he was sent back to Singapore."

Hello, how do you feel NOW that it took MALAYSIA's help to have him arrested, not how you felt in 2003 when you needed Indonesia's help.