SINGAPORE will not encourage a culture where ministers resign whenever things go wrong on their watch, whether or not they are actually to blame, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in Parliament yesterday.

He said that having gone through the facts of the case, he was satisfied that Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng, the Director of the Internal Security Department (ISD) and the Home Affairs Ministry's top management were not to blame for Mas Selamat's escape from detention.

Mr Lee said in his ministerial statement: "These issues (pertaining to how the incident happened and who should be responsible) have to be investigated by departmental inquiries, committees of inquiry, or commissions of inquiry, or (where there is possibly criminal misconduct) by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID).

"We will not just blame the officers directly involved. Those with supervisory oversight, or who are responsible for flawed systems, will also be held to account."

The executive summary of the Committee of Inquiry (COI) into the incident was released in Parliament on Monday. Mr Lee said that ultimately the Minister would be accountable for the policies and operations of his Ministry.

But he cautioned: "This does not mean that if a lapse occurs down the line, every level in the chain of command, up to and including the Minister should automatically be punished or removed.

"Based on the facts, we have to decide who fell short in performing his duties, and what is the appropriate disciplinary action for each officer involved.

"We also have to follow due process, giving officers the chance to defend themselves. Otherwise we will demoralise the organisation and discourage officers from taking initiatives or responsibility, for fear of being punished for making mistakes."

He added that this same principle of responsibility and accountability also applies to Ministers, including himself.

"Of course the Prime Minister himself is accountable too, to Parliament and ultimately to the electorate.

"However, we should not encourage a culture where officials and Ministers resign whenever something goes wrong on their watch, regardless of whether or not they are actually to blame.

"That would be the easy way out. It may temporarily appease an angry public, but it will not fundamentally solve the problem," Mr Lee said.

"The basic issue is whether the person is culpable. If so, we must act against him, however senior his position.

"But if he is not at fault, then we must have the moral courage to state so, and support him.

This way, everybody within the organisation can be confident that when something goes wrong, they will not be sacrificed for political expediency."

On the responsibility and accountability of DPM Wong Kan Seng, who is also the Home Affairs Minister, Mr Lee declared:

"I have gone through the COI report myself, and discussed the matter carefully with DPM Wong and other Cabinet members.

"I am satisfied that the Ministry has taken the correct remedial and disciplinary action, and that the Minister and top management were not to blame for what has happened.

"DPM Wong Kan Seng as the Minister and the Director of Internal Security Department (ISD) both continue to have my full confidence."

Moving forward, Mr Lee said that Mr Wong and Director of ISD will now have to rectify all the operational weaknesses identified by the COI, and correct the underlying mindsets which led to these specific lapses.

He said: "Let us see things in perspective. ISD is our lead agency fighting against terrorism.

It has done sterling work keeping Singapore safe.

"ISD has won international respect for its vigilance and competence in detecting and detaining the JI terrorists before they could set off truck bombs in Singapore and destroy lives and property.

"Many security agencies from the US and Europe have come to compare experiences with ISD and study our methods to combat Islamist extremism.

"These agencies have been especially impressed by our success in winning the support of our Muslim community for the war against terrorism, and by the religious rehabilitation efforts of our ulamas to try to guide the detainees back onto the right path.

"These achievements are the result of years of patient effort.

They reflect the professional competence of the leadership of the ISD and the senior officers of MHA working under DPM Wong Kan Seng. This is why I have confidence in them."

He rallied the public: "I ask Singaporeans to continue giving them (ISD) your full support, as you have done in the hunt for Mas Selamat.

"We will learn from the escape of Mas Selamat and recover from it. Let us pull together, grow from this experience, and emerge stronger from this."

estheray@sph.com.sg