Apa itu ‘tebuk atap’?

Tebuk atap is a political term that gained popularity following the change in government in February 2020. The phrase originated from PAS President Hadi Awang himself, who used an analogy to take over the government through the roof and referred to it as tebuk atap. The term has since been used as a political tool to describe changes in government without a general election.

However, this is incorrect. If a Prime Minister no longer has the support of the majority of members in the Dewan Rakyat, they must step down and the government should be dissolved at the request of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong. The issue is not who is tebuk atap, but who still has the majority. If a party withdraws support and the government still has a majority, it continues to rule.

If withdrawal leads to loss of majority, then the political reality has changed. The government does not fall because someone tebuk atap; the government falls because the number of Members of Parliament that support it is no longer sufficient. Democracy through Parliament is more important. One should not confuse withdrawing support with stealing the government.

If BN or GPS or any other party withdraws support, then sits as an opposition, where is the tebuk atap? If any faction of a coalition party states that after nearly a cycle of elections, it should be given another chance to determine the government they want through another election, where is the 'seizure of power'? Do not replace a government through another form of collusion.

Bring the decision back to the people. The same arguments were also made in the politicking of Negeri Sembilan - withdrawing support and becoming different from the effort to form a new government without an election. The unity government also needs to remember how it was formed. It was not a combination that contested as one team in PRU15, but rather born from the government of reliance and agreements between different parties with different histories and goals.

Do not make the word 'tebuk atap' a vocalization of psychology to force any party to remain in some form of cooperation. Support must be obtained through trust, not fear of the label. BN, GPS, GRS, or any coalition party should not be cajoled into feeling guilty as if leaving the government is tantamount to an affront to democracy.

Withdrawing support is not tebuk atap! Withdrawing support means a party re-evaluating a political cooperation. And if ultimately the government loses its majority, the most straightforward path is available: Return the mandate to the people. Let the people open the door that determines the final outcome. Azran Fitri Rahim is a communication enthusiast who once worked as a journalist, serving as a minister's office staff and a strategic communication officer to the Prime Minister.