I AGREE with Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong that a terrorist attack within our borders is possible, even though the probability is low due to the tireless efforts of our Home Team ('Don't think a terror attack won't happen here', last Saturday).

Full Story

I hope this will stop all those 'security experts' in knee jerk reactions comes up with ridiculous security procedures like at the aftermath of Richard Reid’s (shoe bomber) attempt to destroy a commercial jet in mid air, flying from Paris to Miami in December 2001.

As a result of that incident, now tens of thousands of passengers have to take of their shoes as part of the pre-boarding security scanning procedures

Soon some smart experts will call for the ban of knapsacks/backpack of anykind that can conceal AK47, grenades, C4, etc.

Come and go empty handed.

I heard of a mother being told by airport security officers to prove that the bottle of milk she was taking onboard by drinking some of it in front of them even after she told them that she was breast feeding her child and that milk came from her.

And some day when a terrorist was to coat their underwear in C4 explosives, then what?

To ban passengers from wearing underwear when they board the airplane?

The security system has already failed if all it does is to have security officers collect small tools like nail clippers and pliers from elderly passengers before they board the aircraft.

After all the 911 hijackers complied with all existing airport security procedures and requirement and still succeeded in their missions.

Anyone not wearing underwear?

Put up your hands.

Only razor blades on 9-11. Simple.

And then, some ariline experts came up with putting plastic knives in your food package. Clever.

Once there was a strong advocate towards profiling as the best form of identifying threat but many thought profiling means singling out certain individuals by their religion, race and country of origin.

But this was the misconception. Profiling means spotting physical features, display of characteristics and behaviour that stands out against all other 'normal' features.

This is easily understood by everyone but if we still remember how a couple of our customs officers who have this special talent to sniff single out a drug smuggler from among the plane load of ‘normal passengers.
That was profiling someone based entirely on their characteristics and behaviours.

When Richard Reid paid cash for a long haul flight from Paris to Miami and only hand carry luggage which was different from other pax did not raise any eye brows till he tried to set off the bomb in mid flight.