Since Mas Selamat's breakout, police have received more than 600 calls to 999 and more than 170 e-mail messages about the case.

On Tuesday, the police's director of operations, Assistant Commissioner Wong Hong Kuan, reiterated that it is important for the public to report sightings and minor cases of theft, especially of clothes, money or food.

Noting that people were worried about getting into trouble for reporting an apparent lead that turns out to be a dud, Asst Comm Wong said: 'As long as the reports were made in good faith, nothing will happen to the person. Nothing is too minor for us to follow up on.'

Besides the standard attire of a beige T-shirt, brown drawstring pants and black rubber slippers which all detainees wear, Mas Selamat also had with him a greenish-grey baju kurung - a long-sleeved, hip-length shirt - the police said.

The public should keep a lookout for discarded clothes that resemble these items.

This excerpt was first published by The New Paper on Mar 6, 2008.