Former defence minister says the Amanah president does not exude confidence in holding such an important post.
It is ungentlemanly of Datuk Seri Najib Razak to resort to name-calling in his criticism of the current government, Mohamad Sabu said today.
The Defence Minister said that Najib was “hitting below the belt” by calling him “cartoon”, the latter said today.
Najib had questioned Mohamad’s ability to head the important portfolio, saying the Defence Minister has been more like a comic relief in recent media appearances since assuming the post.
Najib, who was the defence minister twice for a total of 14 years, called Mohamad a “cartoon” and a “joker” who is unqualified to hold the post of Defence Minister while on the campaign trail during the Sg Kandis by-election.
The former prime minister told the audience at a campaign event that Mohamad, better known as Mat Sabu, was not someone who exudes confidence when representing Malaysia abroad.
“Our defence minister is a cartoon. He wears the beret like a cartoon. He gets into the warship and talks about fish curry.
“You are the defence minister. Talk about the country’s defence policies, not about fish curry. This is not defence minister material. This is a joker,” he was quoted as saying by news portal Free Malaysia Today.
Najib also said he had no confidence in Mat Sabu’s ability to engage with counterparts abroad, including with the US defence secretary.
“I cannot guarantee it if Mat Sabu is facing the defence secretary of the US, because he will be talking about fish. The defence secretary will be in a daze. He would ask, ‘What standards do we have in Malaysia?’ Strange, this type of person can become a minister,” Najib was quoted as saying.
Mat Sabu, known for his oratory skills and ability to attract large crowds to ceramahs, was among the first batch of senior ministers named by Dr Mahathir Mohamad after Pakatan Harapan’s polls victory in May.
In college, the former PAS politician studied food sciences, and fellow Internal Security Act detainees who spent time with him at the Kamunting detention camp have spoken about his culinary skills.
His first days as defence minister were spent visiting army camps and warships. In one such visit last month to join the navy for a buka puasa event aboard the KD Mahawangsa, he demonstrated his cooking skills and joked that he could prepare a fish dish for them if they were allowed to fish in the oceans.
Mat Sabu urged Najib to repeat his comments in the Parliament instead of an external venue.
“I don’t want to respond to a comment made outside the House. If the comment was made outside, that is like hitting below the belt,” he said.
“That is not being a gentleman, come and comment here,” Mat Sabu told reporters in Parliament.
Mat Sabu also said that it is too soon to evaluate his performance as Defence Minister, two months after taking up the job.