Missing plane shows need for good intelligence: Shanmugam

Singapore — The recent incident involving a missing Malaysian Airlines plane is a sharp reminder for the need of good airport security and intelligence, said Law and Foreign Affairs Minister K Shanmugam today (March 16).

Speaking at a grassroots event in Sembawang, Mr Shanmugam said that the details that have emerged about the missing MH370 are “actually quite chilling” as they show a deliberate and carefully planned operation. Yesterday, Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak said that the movements of a missing plane were consistent with a deliberate act by someone who turned the jet back across Malaysia and onwards to the west.

While there have been debates in the last few months over intelligence activities, as seen in the United States, Mr Shanmugam said: “Something like this brings home the need for good intelligence, the need for governments to have that intelligence and to be able to use it effectively”.

He added: “It does not mean we pick up everything, but with good airport security and good intelligence, you should be able to avert most of the dangers. But in these things there is no such thing as completely 100 per cent (prevention)”.

Yesterday, the Singapore Armed Forces announced that it is ceasing its operations in the South China Sea after the Malaysian authorities announced that the search-and-locate operation for MH370 in the South China Sea has been called off.

Mr Shanmugam added that Singapore is now waiting to hear from Malaysia on further assistance needed.