MOHAMAD Sabu has been the subject of online memes, caricatures and jokes ever since the jovial Amanah president was named defence minister in the new Pakatan Harapan cabinet.

From a caricature of him in a Rambo get-up to jokes on social media drawing attention to his reputation as an easy-going politician, supporters and critics alike have had a field day trying to envision the man most know as “Mat Sabu” as the head of the country’s defence.

All the attention, however, has had little effect on him.

“I’m fine with it. I see it as my supporters wanting to relay to me what I should be doing,” he told Malaysia Decides.

“So, I’m not angry or anything. Just don’t have any element of lies. If it’s a joke, I have no problem.”

Last Saturday, Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad named Mat Sabu as defence minister, along with Lim Guan Eng as finance minister and Muhyiddin Yassin as home minister.

Dr Mahathir said he will soon name seven ministers, followed by another 15 to complete his new cabinet.

Mat Sabu said he was caught by surprise when he was named as head of the ministry with the largest budget allocation.

“I thought I was going to be named home minister. In fact, Dr Mahathir’s body language also appeared to indicate that I would watch over the Home Ministry.

“But when he named me as defence minister, I accepted,” said the Institut Teknologi Mara graduate in Food Technology.

Mat Sabu said the first thing he intends to do after being sworn in is to gain a deeper understanding of his portfolio and the officials with whom he will be working.

“I will listen to them and get to know them first. Only after that can I bring up my ideas and views for the benefit of the armed forces and the country’s security.”

He said he disagrees with the practice of awarding honorary ranks and giving army uniforms to civilians, especially politicians.

“The army is the army. The practice of giving politicians uniforms and army ranks can be abused.

“I want the army to maintain its own discipline, while us politicians will just stick to controlling policies.”

Mat Sabu was detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA) from 1984 to 1986 on suspicion of being involved in extremist movements.

In Op Lalang in 1987, he was again detained for two years under ISA. Dr Mahathir was prime minister at the time. – May 17, 2018.