Malaysia will descend into chaos if the social contract agreed upon 50 years ago was unraveled, said Umno leader Razaleigh Hamzah yesterday.

This includes questioning aspects of that contract such as the position of Islam and special privileges for Malays, said the former finance minister in a Bernama report.

"If it (social contract) is to be revamped, I predict the nation will descend into chaos," said Razaleigh at a forum on Merdeka held in Kuala Lumur by the Culture, Arts and Heritage Ministry and National Writers Association (Gapena).

Razaleigh said the contract had been agreed on by the communities' early representatives, and any attempt to revise it would have an adverse impact on national unity.

Bright future

"If the guarantees laid out in it cannot be protected, a situation worse than May 13, 1969 (racial riots) may arise," he said, and called on the government to manage the increasing communal polarisation wisely.

The country still has a bright future, but this depends on the hard work of its citizens to build on the successes achieved so far, their mutual respect, and continued acceptance of the social contract, said Razaleigh.

Some 100 experts in various fields had gathered at the forum to share their experiences and exchange views on Malaysia's 50th anniversary as an independent nation.

These included Umno veteran Aishah Ghani, Gapena head Prof Emeritus Ismail Hussein, Bernama chairperson Mohd Annuar Zaini, former Malacca chief minister Rahim Tamby Chik, former Tourism Minister Sabbaruddin Chik and Malaysian Arts Institute, Melaka chairperson Prof Dr Abdul Latiff Abu Bakar.