{
  "id": 6551364,
  "title": "Apa itu ‘tebuk atap’?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/apa-itu-tebuk-atap-6551364",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-10T05:43:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/pandangan/2026/09/10/apa-itu-tebuk-atap"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "\"Tebuk atap\" is not a constitutional term; it is not an legal term either, a known error within Malaysia's democratic parliamentary system. This political term gained popularity following the February 2020 government change. Notably, President of PAS Hadi Awang first used this analogy to take over governance through the roof, referring to \"tebuk atap\" on March 10, 2020, responding to allegations of forming a backdoor government. Soon after, it became a political weapon to describe government changes without a general election. Since then, the phrase \"tebuk atap\" has been widely used, with almost every potential political support change being placed in the same bucket. This is inaccurate. Particularly, if recounted in the post-PRU15 context, it is entirely different. In November 2022, the people did not give a clear majority to any single party or coalition. The final government formed was a post-election coalition, involving Pakatan Harapan (PH), Barisan Nasional (BN), Sarawak Peoples' Party (GPS), Sarawak National Party (GRS), and Unity. These five political blocks then signed the Cooperation Agreement on December 16, 2022, for political stability, renewal, social cohesion, and clarity. The clear meaning is that Umno did not join PH. BN, GPS, GRS, and Unity also did not dissolve their respective identities. They agreed to work together to form a government in the dependent Parliament. The cooperation is not an irreversible contract; it depends on trust, adherence to the understanding, and willingness of all parties to respect the spirit of cooperation. The agreement itself provides a mechanism to handle differences between parties. They agreed to work together to form a government in a dependent Parliament. Moreover, this 2022 agreement itself creates a mechanism to ensure parties adhere to the understanding and resolve differences between them. Therefore, if at any point BN or any component component doubts the ongoing cooperation, the decision to withdraw support cannot automatically be labeled as \"tebuk atap\". It is the political right of a party within a parliamentary democracy. The constitution does not provide any empty government to rule without having a majority or not. Article 43(4) of the Federal Constitution is clear: If the Prime Minister no longer has the confidence of the majority of members of the Dewan Rakyat, he must resign the portfolio of Cabinet ministers unless the Yang di-Pertuan Agong dissolves Parliament at their request. The real issue is not who is \"tebuk atap\", but who still has a majority. If a party withdraws support and the government still has a majority, the government continues to rule. If withdrawal causes the government to lose the majority, the political reality has changed. The government does not fall because someone \"tebuk atap\". The government falls because the number of Members of Parliament who give confidence to it is no longer sufficient. This is democracy in Parliament. More importantly, do not confuse withdrawing support with seizing the government. If BN or GPS or any party withdraws support, then sits as an opposition, where is the \"tebuk atap\"? If any coalition party says that after nearly a term of people, they should be given a new chance to determine the government they want through a general election, where is \"seizing power\"? Do not replace a government with another elite consensus. Return the decision to the people. The same argument was also made in the Negeri Sembilan political polemic - withdrawing support and becoming an opposition differently from the effort to form a new government without a general election. The unity government also needs to remember how it was formed. It was not a coalition that contested as a team in the 2015 PRU, but rather born from the dependent Parliament and agreements between different parties with different history and goals. Therefore, do not make the word \"tebuk atap\" a psychological shout to force any party to remain in a certain cooperation. Support must be obtained through trust, not fear of labels. BN, GPS, GRS, or any coalition party should not be pressured into staying in a government as if withdrawing from the government is a betrayal of democracy. Withdrawing support is not \"tebuk atap\"! Withdrawing support means a party reassesses a political cooperation. And if ultimately the government loses the majority, the most direct path is available: Return mandate to the people. Let the people open the door that determines it. Azran Fitri Rahim is a communication enthusiast who once worked as a reporter, an office assistant to the Minister, and the chief strategic communication officer of the Deputy Prime Minister.",
  "summary": "Istilah itu sering digunakan secara longgar sehingga hampir setiap kemungkinan perubahan sokongan politik diletak dalam bakul sama.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Apa itu ‘tebuk atap’?",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/10/apa-itu-tebuk-atap",
        "published": "2026-09-10T05:43:54.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}