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KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - MALAYSIAN police have stepped up security on the border after an alleged leader of the Jemaah Islamiyah militant network escaped from custody in neighbouring Singapore, a top official said on Thursday.
Mas Selamat bin Kastari, who was accused of planning to hijack a plane and crash it into Changi Airport in Singapore, escaped from a detention centre on Wednesday.
Musa Hassan, inspector general of police, said security forces have beefed up patrols and have distributed photos of Mas Selamat to various enforcement agencies.
Mohamad Mokhtar, police chief of the Malaysian state of Johor which borders the city-state, was coordinating with Singapore police in the manhunt, Musa said.
'We will give our fullest cooperation,' he said. Singapore has launched a massive search for Mas Selamat.
The city-state, a staunch US ally, has said it is a top target for extremists and has taken elaborate security measures to prevent an attack. Singapore authorities arrested 15 people in December 2001 - 13 of whom were suspected JI members - who were allegedly planning to attack a bus carrying Americans to a subway station. -- AFP
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