Mohamad Sabu

Mohamad Sabu, commonly known as Mat Sabu, is a Malaysian politician, currently serving as the Deputy President of the opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party. He was elected to the post in 2011, running on a moderate platform against the conservative incumbent Nasharudin Mat Isa. He had previously served as one of the party's vice-presidents.^[1] He was the first non-alim elected to the party's leadership or deputy leadership in over 25 years.^[2]

Mat Sabu is known for his public speaking abilities.^[2] He has twice been detained under Malaysia's Internal Security Act.^[3]

Controversy

Statement over the Bukit Kepong incident

On 21 August 2011 during a speech in Gelugor, Penang, Mohamad Sabu delivered a controversial statement by saying that it was Muhammad Indera and the 200 Malayan Communist Party (PKM) terrorist soldiers during the 1950 Bukit Kepong Incident who deserved to be claimed as "national heroes" and not the police officers who fought to their deaths defending the Bukit Kepong police station, claiming that all police officers during the massacre as the "British officers" and the PKM soldiers are "true national heroes" as they "fought the British".^[4] The speech, which video had been widely circulated in YouTube, had caused a major uproar throughout Malaysia, as the statement was regarded as an insult to the family members of the deceased victims,^[5] as well as other national heroes not affiliated with the PKM such as the late Tunku Abdul Rahman and Dato' Onn Jaafar.^[6]

On 30 August 2011, Karpal Singh, MP of Bukit Gelugor responded saying that the 25 policemen were true nationalists and that Mat Sabu's statements were ill-advised. ^[7].

However, the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS) denied all the allegations and defended Mohamad Sabu's statement and claims.^[8]

References

1. ^ Habibu, Sira (4 June 2011). "PAS polls result: Mat Sabu is new deputy, ulama lose out". The Star. http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/6/4/nation/20110604083557&sec=nation. Retrieved 5 June 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Tan, Joceline (5 June 2011). "Uncharted road ahead for PAS". The Star. http://thestar.com.my/columnists/story.asp?col=joceline&file=/2011/6/5/columnists/joceline/8840618&sec=Joceline. Retrieved 5 June 2011. 
3. ^ Tan, Sharon (2 June 2009). "Mat Sabu likes the "progressive" way". Malaysia Today. http://mt.m2day.org/2008/content/view/22676/84/. Retrieved 5 June 2011. 
4. ^ Pisau.net. "Mat Sabu hina pejuang negara (Malay)". http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItcuiUCw4qY. Retrieved 2 September 2011. 
5. ^ "Waris tragedi Bukit Kepong tersinggung (Malay)". Utusan Malaysia. 2011-08-28. http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2011&dt=0828&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Dalam_Negeri&pg=dn_06.htm. Retrieved 2 September 2011. 
6. ^ "Mat Sabu's remarks an insult, says Muhyiddin". The Star. 2011-08-28. http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2011/8/28/nation/9387654&sec=nation. Retrieved 2 September 2011. 
7. ^ Bukit Kepong Tragedy: The 25 Policemen Were True Nationalists, Says Karpal, The Malaysian Mirror, 30 August 2011
8. ^ "Isu sebenar ceramah Md Sabu (Malay)". harakahdaily.net. http://bm.harakahdaily.net/index.php/terbaik-dari-blog/5159-isu-sebenar-ceramah-md-sabu. Retrieved 2 September 2011. 

Persondata
Name	Mohamad Sabu
Alternative names	Mat Sabu
Short description	Deputy President of the opposition Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party
Date of birth
Place of birth
Date of death
Place of death