A group, calling itself #SahabatMatSabu (Friends of Mat Sabu, which is Mohamad’s moniker), said they would organise roadshows, social media campaigns and a dinner in early April to collect donations nationwide.

The group’s spokesman, activist Hishamuddin Rais, said they were doing this as they feel Mat Sabu is fighting on behalf of the people

“The issue he brought up was to defend the sovereignty of our country, which is for elections to be held through a clean, fair and transparent manner that the Malaysian people have confidence in,” Hishamuddin told reporters at a restaurant near here today.

Another organiser for the donation drive, Mandeep Singh, said raising the money was crucial for Mat Sabu as failure to pay the sum could jeopardise the latter’s political career as a bankrupt is not allowed to stand in elections or hold government positions.

“He has fought for 35 years and is involved in multiple court cases. This is obviously a politically-motivated act against a person who is not in line with the government’s thinking.”

Mat Sabu was ordered to pay RM200,000 in damages to former Election Commission deputy chief Wan Ahmad Wan Omar after losing a defamation suit in 2014.

Wan Ahmad had sued Mat Sabu, who was at the time PAS deputy president, for claiming he was an Umno member in an article in the Islamic party’s media organ, Harakah.