... you see, this is the problem with Singapore &
its authorities; they want to get something done, such as now, the
high objective of finding MSK - but instead of acting they spend so
much bloody time debating on whether or not it is good idea, and
that it should be a National Duty, blah blah blah...
... For farks sake, cut with the crap, bump up the reward
amount, and get it rolling!!
... they farking think people will spend days hunting for such a
fugitive and not incur costs?? Who's paying their domestic utility
bills while they go out and do this??? Who pays the petrol? And all
other costs of such an effort???
... our "govt" still refuses to wake up their farking
ideas...
===========================================
Yes, rewards help, says group considering $12,000
bounty
But others say it will send wrong message
By Desmond Ng
March 05, 2008
FIND us Mas Selamat Kastari and we'll pay you.
The New Paper on Sunday, 2 Mar.
Security firm Metropolis Security Systems offered $1,000 to its
officers to help track down the terrorist yesterday.
Voluntary group Crime Library also told The New Paper yesterday
that it is discussing a $12,000 bounty for the Jemaah Islamiah (JI)
detainee.
But is it necessary to place a reward for the capture of this
terrorist, some have asked.
Have we become so mercenary that we will only react if there's
money involved?
Lawyer Amolat Singh said: 'If you look at it from a purely
nationalist point of view, this thing should not be done with
money.
'Some people may also take the high moral ground and say that
catching Mas Selamat is our duty. Money should not be
involved.'
A grassroots leader who declined to be named said that putting
out a reward could send out the wrong message.
He said: 'It monetises the whole affair and suggests that
Singaporeans will only act if there's money involved. This should
be a national effort.'
Metropolis Security Systems, which employs more than 250 guards,
put up the bounty in an internal circular to all its employees
yesterday, reported The Straits Times.
Metropolis operations manager Mutaza Sarbini told The Straits
Times: 'With over 250 officers deployed island-wide, we hope to
cover some grounds and hopefully mobilise our resources to help the
authorities.
Since Mas Selamat's escape, officers from the Singapore Police
Force, Immigration & Checkpoints Authority and the Gurkhas have
searched these areas in Singapore.
'We also believe that collective effort by security associations
and other private security agencies in Singapore to consolidate
effort and resources could bring about synergy and joint-effort
with the police in addressing the security issue at hand.'
Crime Library founder Joseph Tan rationalised that while it is
everyone's duty to do his or her part as a citizen, the reward is
just an extra motivation.
'People will offer help and information without being paid. But
there are some who won't mind the extra money. If you have an
incentive, it will increase the chances of finding him as people
become more aware,' he explained.
Mr Tan said the idea of a reward was suggested by some
volunteers during a board meeting last Saturday.
The group has about 270 volunteers. Based on a less than $50
contribution from each volunteer, the reward should work out to at
least $12,000, he said.
He added: 'No concrete decision has been made yet. The idea is
that whoever finds him or has information leading to him will be
rewarded.
'Once we have confirmation, we'll go ahead with placing the
reward. At least, that will increase the chances of success.
'If there's a US$25 million ($35m) reward for Osama bin Laden,
why not Mas Selamat?'
Mr Tan said that in his experience, the reward system does
help.
He cited Crime Library's $50 rewards for information leading to
missing persons as examples.
He said: 'So far, the scheme has been quite successful. We have
had about eight payouts so far, with good leads to missing persons.
It works.'
'WONDERFUL'
Retired police officer Lionel de Souza also thinks the reward
system is a wonderful incentive.
He said: 'I think it's a civil-minded act and there's nothing
wrong unless that person offering the reward has a hidden
agenda.
'With that reward, a person may go that extra mile to find Mas
Selamat. They may go around asking friends or become more
alert.'
Mr Amolat Singh said it's a fact of life that some monetary
benefit will help that cause.
Also, just because there's a reward, it doesn't mean that the
person who helps in the capture of Mas Selamat will take the
money.
He said: 'What's a $10,000 reward for Mas Selamat? If he had
succeeded in his threat to bomb Changi Airport, innocent lives will
be lost and the economic impact will be terrible.
'If that happens, even $10,000 may be too little.'
Some people have questioned if the police should step up and
offer a reward too.
Security officer J Singh said he is surprised there has been no
official bounty for Mas Selamat yet.
The 47-year-old said if he sees the terrorist, he will call the
police even if there's no reward.
But he added: 'Just imagine if someone was harbouring him. If we
put a million dollars on his head, the person may give him up for
the money.
'Money can change a lot of things, the person may just think, 'I
can go off to Hawaii on a holiday, why should I keep you?'
When asked if the Government would offer a reward for the arrest
of the JI fugitive, Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng said on
Sunday that 'this is not the practice of the police'.
Ministers expected to be paid multi-million salaries to do their
jobs of serving the people. Whereas, the gov expect the people to
help the gov search for MSK for free as "national effort".
