1ST - 1,100 Tip-offs From public about MKS.
Singapore authorities have received more than 1,100 tips from the public in its manhunt for an alleged terrorist leader who escaped jail two weeks ago, police said on Wednesday. Mas Selamat Kastari, the alleged leader of the Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) cell in Singapore, vanished on February 27 after asking to use the toilet in the Whitley detention centre. More than 1,100 phoned-in tips had been received from the public as of Monday after police appealed for information on Mas Selamat, police director of operations Wong Hong Kuan told AFP.
A number of false alarms have been triggered by information that Indonesia-born Mas Selamat walks with a limp. People have also sent in tips via e-mail. Security forces were still conducting searches almost island-wide, with a focus on forested tracts, though it was not "neglecting the urban built-up areas," Wong told AFP. The search involving police, the military and the Gurkha soldiers is the biggest manhunt in the history of Singapore. Pictures of the wanted man have been plastered across Singapore and even sent to mobile phone subscribers. Security forces in neighbouring Indonesia and Malaysia were also on the lookout for Mas Selamat, but Singapore insists that he is unlikely to have fled the country.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Sunday that Singapore remained optimistic it can capture him. Mr Lee said: "I've been talking to the ministers responsible and I think we have a pretty good chance of catching him, provided he's still in Singapore." Meanwhile, Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew said Singapore should brace itself for an attack if Mas Selamat manages to flee Singapore and rejoin his JI comrades. 47-year-old Mas Selamat was accused of plotting to hijack a plane in order to crash it into Changi Airport in 2001, but he was never charged in court. He was being held under an internal security law that allows for detention without trial.
Interpol has issued an international red alert for Mas Selamat. - AFP/vm
2ND- Boy From China Studying NTU hit with Leukaemia, donation sparks criticism.
While many of us are working hard for our examinations, or enjoying our friends’ company, there is one among us who is struggling and working hard to regain his normal life. Li Bing Bing, a Year One PRC Scholar from the School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (MAE), needs our help.
On February 29, Bing Bing was diagnosed with leukaemia, after going through a 2-month ordeal. According to the doctors, 50% of Bing Bing’s bone marrow has been infected, and he has to undergo 4 stages of chemotherapy, which will require a total of $150,000. If his condition is stable after that, he will be able to recover. Otherwise, he will require another $180,000 for a bone marrow transplant. His father being a lowly-paid worker in a power plant and his mother being a housewife, the medical cost involved is an astronomical sum to this family.
In view of Bing Bing’s plight, the NTU Students’ Union will be organizing a campus-wide donation drive on 11 and 12 March 2008 (Tue & Wed) from 10.00am to 4.30pm at Canteen A & B to help defray part of his medical costs. Both cash and cheque donations are accepted at the booths. For cheque donation, pls made it payable to “NTU-Student Union” and indicate on the back of the cheque “Donation for Li Bing Bing”.
All donations collected will be passed to Bing Bing directly. Let us give our support to Bing Bing to help him through this difficult period. Any amount donated will be greatly appreciated! Thank you for your kindness. You can visit http://blog.sina.com.cn/xiaobingjiayou for information and latest updates on Bing Bing's condition.
Latest on the poll,
Blue = NO
Red = Yes
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Seriously, based on the first arcticle, i think that Singaporeans are too helpful. Not all are, but some will really devote their time to finding MSK before he hits the deck and making it a 3week wild goose chase. Some Singaporeans will also take this oppotunity to get back on those who oppose them on the road by calling them a suspect on helping MSK (2days ago ST). Some, haha, will even use this as a reason to start calling the police to the ends of Singapore, making them look like fools and such (in other words, Prank calls). Singaporeans sholud really look into this MSK seriously and start making genuine calls.
Based on Second article, I VOTED YES. and boy was i shocked to see the amount of "NO"'s being voted by fellow Netizens. People start calling him "ah Tiong", which means CHinese National in Singapore. I think we shouldnt really ostracise those people who dont hold a pink IC. I mean, i would not donate too, cause my mindset now is i'm still too young to do anything, but if you'll to be friends, like NUS, i guess they really wouldnt mind on donating. Its really hurting to see them being critisied by Netizens, calling them "ah tiong" and go back to china to seek help, not here" stuff like that. Maybe thier lifes have been tainted by at least one chinese national, but you'll never know right?
OFT
better look at http://forums.play-sg.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=193
I lawled. Hahahahaha! Pata-pata-pata-pwned! =)
