Tengku Maimun for PM? Nepal Says Yes

OPINION | Tengku Maimun for PM? Nepal Says Yes


17 Sep 2025 • 10:00 AM MYT



TheRealNehruism
Writer. Seeker. Teacher

Image credit: ABC / Malay Mail


Tengku Maimun might have resigned in July, but judging by the events in Nepal, we might yet again see the former Chief Judge of the Federal Court return, perhaps as the first female prime minister of the nation.


The possibility that Tengku Maimun might serve as the prime minister of Malaysia is not something that has not been imagined before. People like Zaid Ibrahim have touted her as a possible, and perhaps even suitable, candidate as the prime minister of Malaysia.


It is hard to say how much mandate Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has to reign. He might command a majority in Parliament and the opposition might fail to put forth a candidate who can replace him, but in the hearts and minds of the people, it is doubtful how strongly Anwar Ibrahim has established himself as the leader of the country.


Events like the massive Turun Anwar rally last 26th of July, as well as widespread dissatisfaction with the relationship that his administration has formed with the people, might cause difficulties for his reign if Anwar is not careful.


Currently, there are two cases that I think the Anwar administration needs to take a careful look at. The first is the issue of the 13-year-old Zara Qairina’s suspicious death, and the second involves the Kampung Sungai Baru eviction issue.



I believe that these issues are close to the heart of the people, and a mishandling of them might manifest something that is latent, much in disfavour of the unity government.


Sometimes, it is not what we do, but the forces of history that will determine our fate and fortune.


All over the world, from Nepal to Indonesia, people seem to be rising up to renegotiate their relationship with their rulers.


In Indonesia, a food delivery worker getting run over by a police vehicle during a protest over parliamentarians’ perks—at a time when the people were suffering acutely from an increased cost of living—triggered long-suppressed public dissatisfaction against the government, to the extent that the finance minister’s home was looted twice and Jakarta was burning for weeks.


In Nepal, a social media ban imposed by the government quickly turned deadly, as long-festering dissatisfaction that the people had against their government spilled over into open rebellion. This resulted in Nepal’s parliament being burnt down, its finance minister chased and beaten in the street, a former prime minister’s wife burnt to death in her house, and finally, its prime minister being forced to resign.


When governments around the world—from Thailand to Nepal to Indonesia—are facing trouble, it would be well for the Madani government to take cognisance of the events, and appreciate that Time and Circumstances themselves might be inciting the people to unrest.


Seeing how people are vulnerable to unrest, not only in Malaysia but all over the world, it would be prudent for the Madani government to increase its awareness and act pre-emptively, to ensure the fire that is harassing governments around the world does not set it ablaze as well.


If the government is not prudent, deliberate or aware of the situation, or if it acts recklessly, carelessly and ignorantly, then it might not matter that the opposition cannot put forth a prime ministerial candidate to challenge Anwar’s reign—as it is in Nepal today, the people might just decide that they are tired of politicians and men running the country, and decide to put a female chief judge of the nation on the throne instead.


Finally, I would like to end this piece with two advice to the government : Zara Qairina and Kampung Sungai Baru.


It will be well for the government to address these two issues in particular, with particular attention and care in the time being.

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Be careful - a good judge isn't necessarily or automatically a good PM.

Tho' she may be but we need to see more of her PM-ship's qualities before we push her into the role.