ARREST OF JEMAAH ISLAMIYAH MEMBERS (Update)

Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong asked the Minister for Home Affairs (a) if he will provide an update on the progress in arresting active Jemaah Islamiyah members who fled Singapore following the arrest of 15 of their members in December; (b) whether those who have escaped to Indonesia will be arrested; and (c) whether the foreign suicide bombers whom "Sammy" planned to bring to Singapore have been identified.

The Minister for Home Affairs (Mr Wong Kan Seng): Mr Speaker, Sir, ISD's investigations show that some Jemaah Islamiyah (JI) members fled Singapore following the ISD arrests in December last year. They are dispersed and are believed to be in hiding in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and possibly the Philippines. Efforts are being made to bring them back to assist in investigations.

The foreign suicide bombers whom `Sammy' planned to bring to Singapore are not identified.

My Ministry is currently finalising a White Paper on the JI arrests and the threat of terrorism. More details will be disclosed then.

Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong (Tampines): Sir, there have been reports that two main ring leaders like Bashir and Hambali are in Indonesia. What efforts are there to bring them back?

Mr Wong Kan Seng: We have discussed this with the Indonesians and they understood what we have on them. But Indonesian law apparently does not currently allow them to take action.

Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong: Are the regional authorities in Malaysia, Indonesia and Philippines cooperating with our security agency in trying to detain and question them?

Mr Wong Kan Seng: All the security agencies in our region are very cooperative. We have been working very closely with them, even before the Jemaah Islamiyah case. As a result of information that we shared with the Malaysians, for example, they have also mounted their own operation and found their own group of Jemaah Islamiyah. As a result of information that we shared with the Philippines, they have arrested the Indonesian bomb maker and one of the key men of Jemaah Islamiyah. He had been arrested by the Filipino authorities early this year.

Ms Irene Ng Phek Hoong: Would the Minister agree that as long as these terrorists are out there, our security is still at risk?

Mr Wong Kan Seng: We are always vulnerable to threats of this nature and the most manifested symbol of terrorist act was seen in New York on 11th September 2001. Terrorist threats have always been a risk to us and we have always been vigilant. We have stepped up security measures on our borders and checkpoints and at our own key installations and various places, we have also enhanced our security measures to deal with the problem. At the same time, foreign intelligence agencies share information which they have with us and we also share with them. We have to deal with this problem together.