UMNO Youth chief Datuk Dr Akmal Saleh has reaffirmed his firm opposition to any attempt to form a government through what he described as a “backdoor” or ‘tebuk atap’ method, stressing that all parties must respect the mandate given by voters.
He said his stance has remained consistent, including during past political turmoil in Perlis involving a change of Menteri Besar, where actions by several state assemblymen sparked public backlash and even led to expulsions from the party. The episode, he noted, also saw calls for a state election as a way to return the mandate to the people.
Akmal pointed out that similar criticism is now being directed at him amid the ongoing political situation in Negeri Sembilan, where he has again voiced opposition to any attempt to form a government outside the electoral process.
“In Perlis then, there were demands for elections and strong reactions. But now when I say I disagree with ‘tebuk atap’ in Negeri Sembilan, I am the one being attacked with insults,” he said in a Facebook post on Tuesday.
He clarified that while he had previously stated UMNO could withdraw support from the unity government, such a move should not be used as a pathway to form a new administration for power or positions.
Instead, he stressed that any withdrawal of support must be based on principle disagreements with Pakatan Harapan (PH), while still respecting the democratic mandate given by the people.
“If support is withdrawn and the government falls, we must return to the people through elections, not through ‘tebuk atap’,” he said.
Commenting on recent developments involving Perikatan Nasional (PN) assemblymen allegedly showing support for Barisan Nasional (BN) in Negeri Sembilan, Akmal described it as a positive sign towards Malay political unity.
However, he insisted that any such cooperation should be decided through elections rather than political manoeuvres to form a new government outside the ballot box.
“I am calling for cooperation through elections, as I have always maintained, including my view that cooperation between UMNO and PAS should be made possible,” he added.
Akmal also drew a distinction between principled leaders and political “fanatics”, saying the latter tend to justify actions based on convenience rather than consistency.
“The public needs leaders with principles, not blind supporters. UMNO must either withdraw support and become a dignified opposition or face elections—not form a government through backdoor means,” he said.
