One man, one slip and a lot of red faces

No words can describe the Mas Selamat Kastari's escape. No amount of criticism or public outcry nor superlatives will be adequate for such a fiasco. No need to say anything more. There are now many theories about how it could have happened in cyberspace, in msm, in emails and sms and cocktail circuits. Wayang, planned for him to go for some conspiracy reasons, security lapse, a highly coordinated and clever escape plan with internal help, Hollywood style, or he was already dead, etc etc. Everyone's imagination is going into fantasy gear. In my view, walking out of that place is a near impossibility. And according to reports in msm, the guards are all gurkhas, professional soldiers with an impeccable reputation of incorruptibility. Unlikely to be sympathisers or part of any JI movements. So, even if it is an inside job, how could they go pass the gurkhas? For whatever reasons or theories, the damage to our professional and efficient image will take a collosal hit even if he is caught eventually. This is too big a credibility cost to stomach for our reputation and the pride of the men in uniform or our supertalents in govt. Thinking that it is a wayang is too high a price to pay. I was trying to imagine how could a person walk out of the camp and out of the surrounding little jungle without notice. It will take hours to leave the place on foot even if it is possible to walk out of the gate. I rule this out completely. A detailed and well thought out plan by some masterminds and executed by a team of professionals is just as ludicrous. Neither would it be possible for him to dig a tunnel or find a drainage tunnel to slip out from below. The most possible reason is that he has mastered some spiritual power that allowed him to walk out, unseen and unknown to anyone. Hmmm, the logical and objective options were out, and this must be the reason. While everyone is second guessing, thousands of men and women are combing the ground working non stop to track this one man down, all because of a security lapse. The resources and cost put into this exercise is simply unimaginable. And he could still be sleeping inside the detention camp.

The ultimate weapon

After two days, no one has come out with a sound idea of nabbing Kastari quick and fast. It is time to use the ultimate weapon...Money. Offer a $1m reward for his capture, Dead or Alive, as the bounty hunters like to call it. I think many people will be motivated to do the chasing for the money.

Upgrading the quality of education

According to an article in MyPaper today, a parent sent an email to them talking about Sec One students in Maris Stella High are now expected to purchase a $2k MacBook for their personal use. The school has this motto, 'One student, one computer, one great way to learn.' The laptop actually cost between $2277 for a basic model and $2,672 for an upgraded model. The students will definitely be more computer literate and can access to all the websites in cyberspace. It is a bit heavy for a Sec One student to lug along though, and a bit of money to lay hand to one.

Possibility of satellite technology

While so much effort and resources have been invested in satellite technology to track cars on the road, car speed and cars going through ERP gantry points or causing jams, now there is a better use of such leading edge technology. Instead of wasting such resources to become more efficient in collecting tolls, I would suggest that we use it to tag prisoners. Then we can keep track of their every movement. We would definitely know if they are in the toilet if they said they are going to the toilet. And if they escape, if will be a piece of cake to track them down. Satellite technology must have some better use than tracking cars on the road.

Mood was tense but generally inconsequential

The mood in parliament was tense. You could see that on the grim faces and uncomfortable composure of the MPs. Other than that, the issues raised were either irrelevant or of non consequences. I heard about loan sharks and how to make borrowing from them illegal. I heard about trying to meddle with Myanmar's internal affairs, that Myanmar violates human rights, put their opposition leaders in prison, corruption in high places and that sort of things. Actually talking about Myanmar is the safest and most correct thing to do. It was a non event. No more scoring own goals.