COMMENT | A man has sued the prime minister of Malaysia. He is not challenging the election process or the electoral outcomes; his complaint strikes at something far more fundamental.

The plaintiff, former minister P Waythamoorthy, asks: “On Nov 19, 2022 (the date of the 15th general election), was Anwar Ibrahim qualified to stand as a candidate for Tambun, Perak?”

He argues that the answer is “No”, and that Anwar is neither entitled to have been “appointed” prime minister nor to “continue” in that office.

His complaint has thrust the nation into uncharted constitutional waters.