Mohamad Sabu, or Mat Sabu, has had a pleasant surprise on his first overseas trip as the newly-minted Malaysian Defence Minister.
Arriving in Singapore on June 1 to attend the 17th edition of Asia’s premier defence summit, the Shangri-La Dialogue, he first attended Friday prayers at Masjid Sultan where both local and foreign members of the congregation eagerly greeted him and requested selfies with him.
“That was a pleasant surprise. I didn’t think they were following political developments in our country,” said Mat Sabu.
Singaporeans have since been freely sharing their photographs with him on social media.
“(Minister) of Defence of Malaysia at Masjid Sultan Singapore, earlier. Such a simple man. A leader of the people, Alhamdulillah,” said one Facebook user.
The local public’s reception of Mat Sabu was also reported by Berita Harian Singapore.
The scenario was similar at Shangri La Hotel where the three-day dialogue was being held.
Singapore’s Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for National Security Teo Chee Hean (L) talks to Defence Minister Mohamad Sabu at the IISS Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore June 1, 2018.
Mat Sabu was approached by summit participants and hotel staff alike for photographs.
“After dinner on Friday, we returned late to our rooms because we were obliging ‘fans’ who approached him at the hotel lobby,” said one of the minister’s escorts.
Mat Sabu met US Defence Secretary James Mattis today and will return to Malaysia later in the day.
Malaysian Defense Minister Mohamad Sabu (L) is ushered by US Secretary of Defense James Mattis (R) into a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of an International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) 17th Asia Security Summit in Singapore, 03 June 2018.