I refer to the malaysiakini report Ku Li: Don't question social contract .

If the government wanted to know the reality of what is actually happening on the ground then there is no other source it needs to rely on. This hardly needs any elaboration.

But with my greatest respect and indeed admiration for Ku Li, I have to say he has not given us the benefit of what we can do about this situation. He has advised us not to question the social contract but this explicitly and implicitly means that there are groups who are dissatisfied with the contract.

Tunku Abdul Rahman himself was obviously aware that unless these issues are at least addressed and overcome, they will resurface in a possibly a more violent form. There are many other options and alternatives that can be explored.

Therefore in all humility, I am very anxious that the prime minister appeals to Tengku Razaleigh Hamzah to head a small committee of say five persons to sit down and at least identify those aspects of the social contract that seem to be most contentious and try to address them.

A lead strategy would obviously be to introduce a measure that would benefit all members of the working class and the obvious step here is to immediately announce a basic minimum living wage. I am not saying that this should be the proposed wage submitted by the MTUC but it should be based on calculations for the basic items of living.

I am prepared to stick my neck out (as I have often done before) and say that this announcement of a basic minimum wage (drawn from Petronas or any other emergency funds) is the correct and right path to take to reduce tensions and animosity now on the eve of Merdeka. It will make the event more relevant and meaningful to the millions of workers (including rural workers) who can hardly make ends meet on a day-to-day basis.

The government of Abdullah Ahamd Badawi will face a much more positive election campaign if this basic wage is announced now.