Neighbours wondered whether the outspoken opposition leader had, once again, landed himself in trouble with the authorities.

The tension, however, soon turned to merriment when onlookers realised the security detail was there to accompany former prime minister and Pakatan Harapan (PH) chairman Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife Dr Siti Hasmah Ali, who were visiting Mat Sabu, his popular moniker, and his family.

Amanah and Mahathir’s party PPBM are members of PH, which also includes PKR and DAP.

And as usual when playing host to his guests, Mat Sabu donned an apron – suitably dyed in Amanah’s orange colour – and turned cook.

His range of dishes was modest – mutton rice, salad, fried mutton nampla, curry chicken and fried salted fish, he told FMT in relating the visit by Mahathir, his one-time nemesis who sent him into detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA) when they were in Umno and PAS, respectively.

Mat Sabu said the visit was suggested by Abdul Malik Mydin, the Penang-born swimmer who became the first man from Southeast Asia to swim across the English Channel in 2003.

He told Malik his terrace house was too small and unsuitable to host a leader like Mahathir.

“I said my house was small. If we eat there, I will cook as I don’t have the money to cater.”

Malik responded that it was not a problem, so Mat Sabu and his family began their preparations for the visit without letting the public know of it.

Mat Sabu said that only he, his family members, and a close friend were in the house to receive Mahathir and Siti Hasmah.

He noted, however, that last night was not the first time the police came to his house.

“Perhaps my neighbours thought I was going to be arrested again,” said an amused Mat Sabu, who was detained twice under the ISA during Mahathir’s administration.

“When the neighbours found that Tun was here, they gathered outside the house to take pictures. I called them inside to take their pictures. It was then that my political secretary quipped that my dinner with Mahathir could no longer be kept secret,” he laughed.

Mat Sabu said Mahathir spent two hours in his house, and they talked mostly about their families and very little on politics.

“I told Dr Mahathir that the house was bought for RM90,000 during my time in detention. I also introduced to him my son who was born during my detention,” he added.

Mat Sabu, 62, had represented PAS as the MP for Nilam Puri, Kubang Kerian and Kuala Kedah during Mahathir’s premiership.