The issue of national security

Just yesterday, Mr. Wong Kan Seng, Minister of Home Affairs, in Singapore gave an interview that focused broadly on the goals for 2009, and the security concerns for this year.

While I do agree broadly with what he says, I do however have some questions. First up however is that I don't doubt his sincerity. I do believe that he does have the country's interest in his heart, and there's no doubt that in 2009, due in part of what has happened internationally, that our security remains one of the most paramount concerns, and we should not let our guard down, whether is it cyberterrorism, or is it terrorism, and the fight against extremists.

The question I have basically is this: in light what happened almost 12 months ago, in the case of the escape of Mas Selamat, what Mr. Wong did didn't reflect the tough words he said. While it is easy to say, its not easy to do. And the fact is that the prisoner wasn't put under full observance, not completely under surveillance and was allowed to go to rooms to do whatever he was pleased. The structure of the detention centre was also significantly compromised, which would give an open invitation to anyone who has the audacity to try. Besides the appointment of the director of the department comes under him, the minister of home affairs. And if the director agreed to put Selamat there, then the Home Affairs minister would have known and agreed to it.

And then in light of the escape, the Home Affairs ministry didn't fully issue a full bulletin that had the full description of Selamat until 2 days after he escaped. In this day and age, where people just need to board a boat or a plane and be on the other side of the world within 24 hours, the response in catching was too slow, and hence the search for Selamat in the next two, three months were simply too little, too late.

I compare the political response to the one in India after the Mumbai attacks in November 2008 later, and I know the Minister in charge of the interior- equivalent to the Home Affairs- resigned in disgrace, knowing that the Mumbai attacks was a failure because he was also in charge of the intelligence services, which didn't detect any plans by terrorists until it was too late. If the Indian side can resign to take responsibility, why didn't our minister do the same...because it was under his watch when it happened?

In the end, a politicised Home Affairs ministry compromises our national security. Mr. Wong has his reasons to stay on, and while I respect his position and his stance, I do not fully agree an apology is sufficient enough, even 1 year since it has happened. As such, Mr. Wong's words don't match his actions, and I'm afraid there are questions that has to be asked about his leadership.

At a perilous time such as this, its time Singapore have a Minister of Home Affairs who's fully committed to protecting Singapore's national security and her people, rather than one who has been so keen to protect his own, till the point he somehow compromises Singapore's and her people's.