SINGAPORE Chinese Girls School (SCGS), which is near the Whitley Road detention school where the JI terrorist leader escaped on Wednesday, has stepped up security checks on visitors entering and leaving the school compound, as authorities intensified a manhunt to track down militant Mas Selemat Kastari who is still at large.

While lessons continued as normal on Thursday, cars entering and leaving the school had to undergo stringent checks by the school's security guards. Motorists were also asked to open their boots for checks.

Principal of the all-girls school, Mrs Low Ay Nar said there was no drop in attendance among the students although some rattled parents pulled their daughters out of school on Thursday. Mrs Low said the number was 'insignificant'.

'The confidence level among our students remains high and lessons are going on as usual,' she told The Straits Times.

The students were advised to stay 'calm and steady'.

The school also used the backdrop of the manhunt and security checks to drive home the importance of total defence to the girls.

The presence of the police and Gurkha guards around the school caused a stir when the students arrived at school in the morning.

They were immediately ushered to the school assembly hall where they were briefed on the escaped JI detainee and what the school was doing to protect them.

Carlyn Tan, 12, a primary six pupil said she felt 'safe' with the stepped up security measures.

'What is happening around us is just like out of a movie,' she said.

Ms Lydia Ng, 40, who was fetching her daughter from school, also said she feels reassured about the safety of the pupils, and did not mind the hassle of the additional security checks.

Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng on Thursday urged the public to stay calm and report any suspicious sighting to the public immediately.

He also warned of the serious consequences of rendering help to the fugitive.

'If you are helping Mas Selamat to hide, you are committing a grave offence and you will have to face the law,' he said.

The minister admitted in Parliament that there had been a security lapse at the detention centre which allowed the JI militant to escape, and an independent investigation into how it happened is underway.

Mr Wong said the priority is to arrest the escape, and no efforts will be spared to track down Mas Selamat, who was linked to the sensational plot to crash a hijacked plane into Changi Airport.

He said he understand the public concerns, especially those of parents who were alarmed by the large presence of police and security forces when they sent their children to school on Thursday.

'Let me advise the public to stay calm about this. The police will do its job,' he said.

He also urged the public to help look out for the runaway terrorist leader.

'The photograph of Mas Selamat is splashed all over the country. Look out for him. And if there is any information of anyone that looks like him, report the case to the police and they can be sure that the Police will look into it thoroughly,' said the minister.