By Eileen Ng

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: Captured Singapore Jemaah Islamiyah leader Mat Selamat Kastari had been on the run in Malaysia for more than a year before being arrested recently.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the 48-year-old managed to slip into the country a few days after his escape from a high-security detention centre in the republic.

"After a few days (from his escape in Singapore), he managed to get into Malaysia," he said at a press conference after launching the A Decade of Dedication Exhibition at the Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia yesterday.

Najib said there were no evidence that Mat Selamat was planning an attack in the country.

"No, we know that he was planning a lot of things against Singapore. His main focus at the time was Singapore," he said.

However, Najib refused to reveal when Mat Selamat was arrested.

Najib also congratulated the police for its success in apprehending Mat Selamat, described by the prime minister as an individual who is a threat to national security.

He said the successful capture was relayed to his Singapore counterpart Lee Hsien Loong in Pattaya, Thailand early last month.

"I've mentioned this to Singapore Prime Minister when we talked in Pattaya and he's happy Malaysia had succeeded in apprehending Mat Selamat," he said.

Asked whether there are plans to repatriate Mat Selamat back to Singapore, Najib said he will have to consult the matter with the police on this.