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Jurong Island Theft: 100kg of Jet fuel additive STOLEN !
I was shocked to see this piece of news in The New Paper (29th December 2006). It is reported that thieves had made off with 100kg of Stadis 450, a jet fuel additive. Stadis 450 is classified as a flammable liquid and hazardous material. The New paper understands that the jet fuel additive was left in six sealed pails which later went missing. I was even more surprised to read that the jet fuel additive has been missing ever since 4th December 2006. The police was subsquently informed of the theft two days later, on the 6th.
According to the Phillipine Daily Inquirer, the incident was serious enough for Singapore authorities to alert a bomb data centre in the Philippines.
Mr Joe Moreira, a security and explosive consultant, doubts that the fuel additive will be a threat. He said, “Jet fuel furns quickly in the air and you can’t sustain it for long. You need diesel to sustain the fire. So, you’ll be wasting jet fuel on a bomb.”
“Being flammable, the additive can be used as fuel oil together with an improvised explosive device for incendiary effect,” the Singapore police said.
According to the Philippine Inquirer, “The Singapore police have alerted their counterparts in the Philippines about the disappearance of six pails of jet fuel weighing about 100 kilograms from an oil storage facility in the city-state, which they said could be used as a component for explosives, an alert bulletin obtained by the Inquirer said.
The bulletin came as Metro Manila police were recently placed on full alert in the run-up to the sixth anniversary of the Rizal Day bombings. “
Is it arrogance on the part of the Singapore police that they believed that the stolen Stadis 450 would not be made into bombs which would be used in Singapore? Maybe that’s the reason why the public wasn’t informed as soon as the threat was established. No threat I suppose. Just another case of robbery? Hopefully.
I am puzzled, worried and angered at the same time.
1. Why wasn’t Singaporeans informed of the theft until exactly more than three weeks later? On top of that, why wasn’t there any statements made by the Co-ordinating Minister for National Security and Minister for Law, Prof. S. Jayakumar at the point of the theft? Did he deemed it insignificant to warrant notice by Singaporeans?
2. How did the entire theft happen inspite of the tight security on Jurong Island? How can someone go in past all the access controls, and come out with stolen goods?(Since the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, security on Jurong Island has been stepped up and it has also been gazetted a Protected Area. Armed soldiers and police officers are involved in its security. In November 2003, the chemical hub opened a new securtiy checkpoint featuring X-ray scanners to detect explosives and weapons, as well as three-tier vehicle barriers to bar intrusions. On top of all that, visitors must exchange their identity cards for a pass and all incoming vehicles are searched before being allowed entry).
3. If it is proven that there is a laspe in security on Jurong island, who is going to be held acountable? The Commander in charge of security on Jurong Island or even Wong Kan Seng & Prof. S, Jayakumar?
4. More signficantly, if the100kg of jet fuel is made into a bomb with diesel and is made to be detonated during the year-end countdown parties at Marina Bay, Vivo City, Siloso Beach, Expo, National Museum, who is going to take responsibility for the enormous death toll and subsquently, economic and social damages. PM Lee possibly?
I’m not trying to make a fuss out of nothing. I’m just concerned about the authorities’ attempt to hide information from the people. The authorities should alert the people once any breach of security or terror threat is discovered. At least, Singaporeans would not take their peace for granted. Despite all these, why is there still a media blackout on this theft, insignificant it may seem. So does this mean that in future, the authorities would only inform the people once a bomb has went off, or people are killed? I guess it’s a national security issue, thus it should remain secret. Is that the logic of the authorities?
I need answers from the top authorities now and when the investigations are done. This is my country, my home. I do not want anything to happen to it and I placed my confidence in the security apparatus to ensure that such incidents do not happen again. I would like to see a transparent and open attitude towards such breach of security issues.
For now, I need an open and transparent answers to my questions.
Singaporeans deserve to know what happened. Be accountable to all Singaporeans.
At least inform me of how jet fuel look like so I can help the police spot it. Copyright © 2006 Union of Concerned Singaporeans, Inc. All rights reserved. |
Posted by persistentlypolitical 
