The ‘social contract’ — Concerned Scholars
We would like to provide some feedback to the speech made by Prime Minister Najib Razak on 21 October 2010 to the Umno general assembly in which he gave the impression that there is a ‘social contract’ whose terms are set in stone. He also told the delegates that no Malaysian should question it.
It is necessary to note that there is a range of views amongst us on the social contract issue and on how to respond to the Prime Minister’s advice.
One colleague has argued that it is not yet time for an “organized effort” of civil society to make such a statement as it may provoke negative reactions that may be harmful to our common pursuit of a fair and united nation.
Another has expressed concern that we must not play into the hands of politicians who will mobilize Malay support by trying to show that the non-Malays have reneged on their so-called promise to accept Malay political superiority in exchange for citizenship.
A third colleague has noted that there is really no need to contest what is ‘written’ in the social contract. Rather, we should question where a copy of the social contract is to be found so we can verify and discuss its contents and meaning.
Despite our different points of view, we are in agreement on three key points.
* It is important for Malaysians not to be gagged into silence on what is perhaps the most contentious issue standing in the way of better inter-communal relations in the country. The quicker we can
reach consensus on what the social contract means — not only in terms of what was agreed by the nation’s early leaders in the past but also, more importantly, on how this agreement should be understood by Malaysians today — the less divided and more hopeful will be our future.
* For us to reach this consensus, it is important to have the facts on what took place during that critical period of our history fully disclosed and available for public discussion. In particular, we will need to have the relevant reports of the Reid Commission so that Malaysians have the opportunity to read and understand the logic and wisdom of our early leaders and do not have to depend on politically skewed interpretations of what is supposed to comprise any agreement or social contract for that period.
* At the same time it is necessary for constitutional and legal experts, historians and other scholars to lend their expertise to the public understanding. Professional organizations such as the Bar Council, the Malaysian Social Science Association, and other bodies should organize talks, seminars and forums to ensure that the best minds on the subject can have their opinions disseminated to the public.
We believe that the Malaysian public has reached a level of political maturity so that we can have a rational and public debate on the way forward in terms of any inter-communal accord or understanding arrived at, and on what needs to be honoured and respected. For that reason, we are opposed to the position of Umno and MCA which is tantamount to decreeing a ban on public discussion of the issue.
The danger is that in not debating the issue openly — which is what the two main BN parties seem to be driving at — there is a real danger not only of driving that debate underground but also of reinforcing or entrenching ethnocentric interpretations that do not reflect the true intent of the constitutional agreement reached more than 50 years ago.
* Issued and signed by Dr Lim Teck Ghee, Dr Mavis Puthucheary, Dr Azmi Sharom, Dr Toh Kin Woon and Dr Wan Zawawi Ibrahim.
rakyat · 7 hours ago
as analysed, political skewed to retain putrajaya in perpetuity at all cost.
Reply
1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago
+4 Vote up Vote down
1PemborosanDuniawi's avatar
1PemborosanDuniawi · 4 hours ago
contract alibaba biz! haha!
Reply
+16 Vote up Vote down
orang 's avatar
orang · 6 hours ago
snatching the supremacy from Orang Aslis and talking about a non existent 'social contract'? Then restore the missionary schools agreed in the 'social contract. Then allow full freedom to practice ones religion as agreed in the 'social contract'. Stop desecrating the religious scriptures by confistication and forcing to alterations and additions. Seek the permission from religions having been using words before the other religion, if it is confusing or else use another word. Be bold and fair enough to reveal the share of the economy by each bumiputras and give urgent fair due equal consideration. The bumiputras are in pathetic condition.
Reply
1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago
+6 Vote up Vote down
1PemborosanDuniawi's avatar
1PemborosanDuniawi · 4 hours ago
this is the behaviour of pirates from generation to generation! haha!
Reply
+20 Vote up Vote down
Dr Zhivago's avatar
Dr Zhivago · 6 hours ago
After decades of mis-rule by UMNO(United Malay National Organization), the dominant political party which has ruled Malaysia for over 50 years, the list of things that have gone wrong with the country grows longer by the day.
It is no coincidence then that tens of thousands have packed up and emigrated to other countries just in the last one year alone. It is also no coincidence that most are non-Malays and non-Muslims. Since Independence, over a million have emigrated in succeeding waves, in 1969 after race riots, in 1979 after a political crisis,1987 after the Financial Crisis and now recently over the last 5-6 years.
The racist policies adopted by the UMNO-controlled Federal Government since the May 13 1969 riots have alienated the non-Malays(Chinese and Indians, some 3rd and 4th generation full citizens). There have been numerous complaints of discrimination in government(civil service, police, army)employment and promotion and even denial of access to public colleges and universities, including scholarships. Even employment/promotion in the universities are radically biased towards Malay Muslims.This has lately been extended to GLCs or Government-controlled Companies. Government contracts are reserved for bumiputras and even licences for imported cars are dished out by the Minister to family and supporters of UMNO to the exclusion of the non-Malay non-Muslims.
The complaints have been largely ignored and brush aside with disdain and contempt, at times with comments like " they are mere discomforts".
Read what an UMNO Minister has to say just today about 'traitors' who left the country Here.
T
Reply
3 replies · active less than 1 minute ago
-21 Vote up Vote down
bangsa melayu's avatar
bangsa melayu · 2 hours ago
You also can pack-up and emigrate to country you choose.The Malays can manage this country. During confrontation and emergency periods the Malays who defended this country.Malays who make-up of 99% of securityforce.Why wait ,go and emigrate, bring indians and chinese together.Last time the Malays not even invited or welcome emigraters to make their life here.
Reply
Loading...
+3 Vote up Vote down
kopite's avatar - Go to profile
kopite 112p · 2 hours ago
Ppl like you can manage the country? You can't even start a simple biz without Government helping you! And that tongkat already extended to you for over 4 decades! Tak malu ke! And I'm pretty sure you are a UMNO member or at least a Perkasa goon.
MAS already koyak, LRTs koyak, Proton koyak.... the list goes on! If Government doesn't bail them out, these companies already bungkus long long time ago. Can manage the country, konon! You are just making a fool out of yourself la.....
BTW, if you are interested, please apply to get yourself affiliated with KKK.
Reply
0 Vote up Vote down
Ordinary Citizen's avatar
Ordinary Citizen · 24 minutes ago
bangsa melayu, Even the malays are emigrating, do you know that?? manage this country? on the contrary, it is mismanaged and destroyed by narrow minded thinking. The inability to face the failures already mentioned by kopite and the insensitivity to the orang asli who are the original people of this land. If not for the British who build the railway, roads, telecommunications, died during WW2 defending Malaysia, build schools, taught us English to survive...people like you will still remain in the caves. You have the cheek to say you can manage this country.
Reply
Loading...
+16 Vote up Vote down
aries's avatar - Go to profile
aries 122p · 6 hours ago
Kudos to you guys for "spearheading" the movement for an open and unhindered need to discuss the said "social contract" for the benefit and well-being of the country.
All fair-minded and sincere Malaysians ( need not be "1Malaysian" ) should agree unconditionally to such a pertinent and timely movement in order to put Malaysia and Malaysians on the right footing. We have been left in the lurch for far too long due to reasons and baggages not of our doing, but still perpetrated and perpetuated by opportunists and bigots.
We need to look beyond parochial, selfish, calculated and prejudicial interpretations.
Reply
1 reply · active 6 hours ago
-9 Vote up Vote down
bangsa melayu's avatar
bangsa melayu · 2 hours ago
Why call yourself Malaysian.Your are chinese and indian, suppose you should address yourself accordingly. Malays ian is derived from the word Malays. Shame of you all.
Reply
+9 Vote up Vote down
All41's avatar
All41 · 6 hours ago
Great to have them to protect the real issues the country is facing.
Reply
0 replies · active less than 1 minute ago
+4 Vote up Vote down
zonefinder's avatar
zonefinder · 5 hours ago
Go read what RPK is revealing on Malaysia today albeit on instalments.
Reply
0 replies · active less than 1 minute ago
+6 Vote up Vote down
danchu's avatar
danchu · 5 hours ago
if anything is truthful, fair and just it will stand up all sorts of questions. there is no need to threaten people not to question it
Reply
0 replies · active less than 1 minute ago
+10 Vote up Vote down
Badang Meradang's avatar
Badang Meradang · 4 hours ago
Royal Professor Ungku Aziz said that there is no such thing as "Social Contract". It is purely a myth created by UMNO during Tun Razak (1970 onwards) and sustained openly by agencies like BTN and subtley by various government agencies. The core interest of this myth is not so much to elevate the poor Malays but to amass the national wealth by the UMNOputras.
Sadly many poor Malays and natives in Sabah and Sarawak remain in poor condition, which in turn gives UMNO the legitimacy to further justify the social contract myth. Vicious cycle. The only way out is to vote out UMNO and its proxies. This is the only way, the poor Malays, natives of Sabah and Sarawak and all other underpriviliged groups can enjoy the fruits of merdeka.
The Pakatan government must honour the Federal treaty by according Sabah and Sarawak equal status as Peninsular Malaysia, and not as two states in the Federal government. Equality of all beings is the primary code of all civilised societies.
Reply
0 replies · active less than 1 minute ago
+8 Vote up Vote down
Badang Meradang's avatar
Badang Meradang · 4 hours ago
What is the opinion of our historians? RPK is disclosing primary documents. Is our historians are not capable to obtain such documents during their research? Does it take a RPK to show historians national documents of primary importance? What say our historians: Koo Kay Kim, Ramlah Adam and Cheah Boon Kheng? By being elegantly silent in the comnfort of "menara gading" when we need experts to clear the confusion is not much of help.
Reply
0 replies · active less than 1 minute ago
+11 Vote up Vote down
jimmy lek's avatar
jimmy lek · 4 hours ago
I fully concur and support the wise 5 Drs. in my view, the "social contract" does not exist
Reply
0 replies · active less than 1 minute ago
+8 Vote up Vote down
WhatContract!'s avatar
WhatContract! · 4 hours ago
How many of the rural malays benefited from the NEP? Only the BN Cronies especially UMNO, Ibrahim Ali and their families benfitted from it!!!!!!!
Reply
0 replies · active less than 1 minute ago
+9 Vote up Vote down
Maskan's avatar
Maskan · 3 hours ago
There is no written social contract. Only what the most powerful group in the country say is in that contract
Reply
0 replies · active less than 1 minute ago
+7 Vote up Vote down
stanley teoh's avatar
stanley teoh · 3 hours ago
There is money APLENTY to be plundered ! Hence the urgency to RETAIN AT ALL COSTS, ALL benefits due ! If Malaysia becomes bankrupt, what do you think will happen ? When that time comes, they will give the country to the non-bumis to REBUILD it so that they can replunder it again ! The way I understood it , the social contract (not found in the constitution - specifically) DOES NOT COVER EVERYTHING. Show me where it says that Bumis ( before 1969 no Bumiputras yet) will inherit EVERYTHING to the total EXCLUSION OF THE OTHER MALAYANS ? This is the dirty work of TDM !
Reply
0 replies · active less than 1 minute ago
+6 Vote up Vote down
Justlee's avatar
Justlee · 2 hours ago
As usual it is not surprising mca will meekly accept and agree with what big brother dictates especially after having been given a lashing at the umno general assembly.Their recent spurt of bravado does not last long.Have to toe the line as the GE is coming or risk losing whatever positions they are still clinging on.
Reply
0 replies · active less than 1 minute ago
+8 Vote up Vote down
malu!!!'s avatar
malu!!! · 2 hours ago
Malu nak cakap ada sosial perjanjian apabila ia hanya untuk kepentingan politik UMNO sahaja !!!
Reply
0 replies · active less than 1 minute ago
0 Vote up Vote down
baju merah's avatar
baju merah · 35 minutes ago
UMNO and MCA does not want this to be questioned because they need this to be relevant and be in power...
SImple as that!
SO we have to kick them out in GE 13 only problem is they will not leave quietly. They will create racial discord and remain in power...I am worried they will do so and just use any excuse to create such problems...
Remember the Cow Head Issue, Pig Head Issue (I think UMNO created this)..
Reply
0 replies · active less than 1 minute ago
0 Vote up Vote down
joe_mamak's avatar
joe_mamak · 30 minutes ago
Yes. I think Malaysians have become more matured over the years.
There are of course some still stuck in the dark ages. They have been bonsified and bonsified good.
Comments