Social Contract, Political Contract, or Hit Contract

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By NURUL IZZAH ANWAR

I refer to the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s reminder to all Malaysians not to question “provisions in the Constitution, particularly those related to the "social contract.”

The prime minister also said, and I quote: “Please remember that it is our responsibility to care for the country for our future generations. Let us not damage what is already in good condition.”

If we cannot discuss the “social contract”, then can we instead discuss the “political contract”, that should be built on a free and fair election supported by a functioning fourth estate, a free media?

If people cannot have reliable information, exchange opinions or even have their dissenting voices heard through a free and independent media, and vote for their legitimate representatives at all three levels of government — local, state and federal — in a free and fair manner, then what kind of “political contract” have the people be handed with?

It would be more like a “hit contract”, where only the people get “hit” with state propaganda and “hit” again at the ballot box through unfair electoral process.

Therefore, I wish to invite the prime minister to participate in an open and honourable discussion on election reforms and freedom of the media, which I believe would complement and assure the success of the New Economic Model (NEM) being proposed soon by the prime minister himself as announced recently.

If we still cannot discuss or debate on our “political contract”, then do tell us what can be discussed.

Finally, I humbly await the prime minister’s honourable reply

[ Nurul Izzah Anwar is the MP Lembah Pantai].

courtesy of SinChew