EVERY year, Mohamad Sabu hosts a buka puasa open house in his village in Tasek Gelugor, but this year’s event, held yesterday, was special.

It was the first time he hosted his kampung neighbours after becoming defence minister.

About 1,000 people attended the open house in Kg Guar Petai in northern Seberang Prai, where Mohamad, popularly known as Mat Sabu, was born, turning a usually small village affair into a big one.

It was not a grand event, and it was very wet due to rain. But, people wanted to see the new minister, to say hello and congratulate him.

Nasir Hussein, 54, who is from Mat Sabu’s village, said he is very happy for the politician.

“We are thrilled for him. I have known him since his PAS days. It’s been about 30 years.

“I always attend his ceramah to hear his speeches. He is a good speaker.”

He said Mat Sabu has come a long way to become a minister, having faced challenges as a PAS leader, getting detained under the Internal Security Act, leaving the Islamist party to form a new outfit, and going into a tough election, in a new party.

“It is good that he has been appointed minister. He’ll do fine. He is an experienced politician who has gone through a lot.

“Come to think of it, we have several ministers in the new government who have seen the inside of a prison cell.”

Nasir said he is glad to see Mat Sabu still being his old down-to-earth self, though he now holds the post of a senior federal minister.

Mohd Hanafiah A. Rahman, 64, had travelled all the way from Baling, Kedah, to see Mat Sabu.

The former PAS man said when Mat Sabu and other progressive leaders quit the Islamist party, he, too, left.

“I have known him for a long time. He was a very strong PAS activist. He is a good man who is close to the people.”

With no airs about him, Mat Sabu walked around in the drizzle, just like the other villagers, negotiating muddy puddles in his slippers.

Asked what his fellow villagers have said to him, he told The Malaysian Insight: “They are extremely happy.”

Earlier in his speech, he apologised if he was not a very good host, expressing worry that the food might not be enough for the huge crowd.

“This buka puasa open house is intended for my fellow villagers and friends who live nearby, like in previous years. But, friends had posted on Facebook, announcing the event.

“We made contingency plans. We got more food prepared. I hope it is enough for everyone. I am sorry if it is not enough.

“This open house is not by the Defence Ministry. It is organised by Abang Mat, the villager.”

He spoke about his political journey, of winning the last elections with a whopping 71,000-vote majority in the Kota Raja parliamentary seat in Selangor, becoming defence minister and adapting to his new life.

“In the past, when uniformed men came to my house, I would think they were arresting me. These days, when they come, it is to provide protection.

“Now, I have people accompanying me wherever I go to provide protection,” he said, cracking jokes with his trademark sense of humour.

Mat Sabu said he now cannot give the kind of speeches he used to, as he must mind his words being the holder of the defence portfolio.

“After this, don’t get upset with me if my speeches are not as good as before.”

He assured the people that while the Pakatan Harapan government deals with the RM1 trillion national debt, measures will also be taken to heal the economy and improve the people’s welfare.

“BR1M will be paid before Hari Raya under a new name… BROOM, BRAM, I don’t know,” he said, repeating the joke he often made about Barisan Nasional’s 1Malaysia People’s Aid in his past ceramah.

He said Putrajaya will ensure that the nation catches up with other rapidly growing Asian countries, which used to be on a par with Malaysia.

“Malaysia will be great again in the future,” he said, as the crowd laughed.

The “great again” tagline was popularised by Donald Trump’s 2016 US presidential campaign.

In the 14th general election, the ousted BN had used a similar-sounding slogan, “Bersama BN, Hebatkan Negaraku” (With BN, make my country great). – May 28, 2018.