YOURSAY 'If Umno is no longer in government, things will automatically fall into place. There won't be a need for a new social contract.'

KJ suggests new social contract 'to do a hard reboot'

Asitis: The question is, after more than 50 years of independence do we still need a social contract to function as a society? If the answer is yes, then ours is a pathetically failed society.

Is the social contract still relevant after more than 50 years or is it just a convenient relic of our history held on to by uncreative politicians to score some political mileage?

Those of the post-Merdeka era, especially those in the younger generation far removed from Merdeka era, would not really understand or share the same sentiments as our founding fathers when they laid down this so-called social contract.

There are so many problems unique to their time and generation, much of which are created by the those of the previous more senior generations, that they don't really care or want to be bogged down by the problems of their "seniors".

They have enough problems of their own and another social contract won't really add any value to their lives.

Relevancy: What do the words 'hard reboot' mean? Does it involve rewriting the foundation of the constitution?

One cannot simply reboot by changing the known historical constitution. Race and religion should never be written into the foundation of a constitution as the world or universe does not belong to one.

ACR: If Umno is no longer in government, things will automatically fall into place. There won't be a need for a new social contract as many of the race and religious issues are manufactured for political expediency.

The current social contract is not the original 1957 Merdeka constitution. Too many amendments have been made post-1969 and in the 1980s which have removed the spirit of the original contract.

P Dev Anand Pillai: Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin (KJ), you have yet to reach 40 years, why on earth are you still with the old mindset, why the need of a new social contract?

Stop the influx of foreigners immediately or else the native Malays would not be able to know who is a Malay any more. The dilution is taking place now and it will show in a few years' time.

If we re-agree on a social contract, this same situation will arise in time to come. So it will be best to give equality to all without having to live in an environment where we have superior classes of citizens and the inferior ones.

South Africa crumbled because of that and Malaysia is just awaiting its time. Come on KJ, you can do better, don't you want to see the best for Malaysia?

Fair Play: KJ, no need for a new social contract. Just honour the constitution as it is written and give an equal treatment to the other communities. This is the best way for the nation to move forward in the light of strong economic headwinds against the nation.

I read in another source that Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim has finally accepted the results of the 13th general election (GE13) and he is looking forward to an unity government in a drive towards national reconciliation. Perhaps, this would be a good start.

Old Timer: Hmm... so where is the Malaysian identity? As Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said: 'I'm Malay first'. So everyone would be "Chinese first', 'Indian first' or 'Indonesian first' except for those who 'became' the Malay race'.

So what is KJ talking about? Are we talking about a loose collection of races in this country or are we are talking about a national identity and unity?

Kingfisher: I am not saying this is not a good idea. In fact it is an excellent one and YB Khairy should be commended. Do something. You are well placed to demonstrate initiative to mobilise the support of Umno Youth/Puteri and gain the consent of MCA Youth and MIC Youth.

He could even persuade the youth in Pakatan Rakyat. Rope in progressive NGOs and start a trend for lateral thinking in the social psychology of the Malaysian youth psyche.

There is still much promise in our youth. Intelligently and with all politeness marginalise the old guard and the narrow-minded in all communities whose yesteryear values of segregation are increasingly proving to be a hindrance for the free and productive development of this lucky country.

The basic premise of a new contract should acknowledge that "development" and especially human development is a fundamental right of all Malaysians.

Anonymous #42402094: Why reboot when you can always revert to the original spirit of the social contract? Let no race try to reign supreme.

Onyourtoes: Khairy, you said, "When the social contract was made in the 1950s, there was understanding between the Malays, Chinese and Indians but it had changed over time."

Now let me ask you, was it the understanding that has changed or was it the social contract that has changed or has been hijacked over the time?

If it is the "understanding" that has changed, may I know what has caused it to change? If it is the "social contract" that has changed, may I know to what extent it has changed and to whose advantage and at whose expense the change has resulted?

You talk hauntingly about consensus and about avoiding the tyranny of the majority but have you not just asked for screening of 'Tanda Putera' in all open fields throughout Penang?

In this country, everybody knows who the victims and the villains are, except self-righteous Umno. You can read my comments here over time, I have never felt so angry before. What nonsense are all these.

First you teach our kids wrong stuff in schools, then you send rubbish to our living rooms through all the moronic TV programmes, then you corrupt us with your garbage newspapers ranting and concocting slanders and falsehood, and now you made a movie using my money to demean my race and my culture.

Look, the Chinese were the victims, not villains, in the May 13 incident. We don't deserve another lie telling us we are aggressors, troublemakers and provocateurs. By and large, Chinese are law-abiding and productive citizens.

Vijay47: Khairy, will the revised social contract have the same force and application as the MOU Najib Abdul Razak signed with Persatuan Hindraf Malaysia leader P Waythamoorthy? Just asking.

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