The New Malaysian Social Contract

We are living through tough times. Rising prices, stagnant wages, soaring crime rates and unlivable conditions are making the life of the average Malaysian harder. Yet, the powers that be still remain irresponsive to the needs of the people by making poor policy choices. 

The Malaysian social contract has been a subject of controversy, particularly because any debate or discussion about it touches on the special rights and privileges of the Bumiputera. Any talk about it has to do with how non-Malays are given citizenship rights in return for special privileges for Malays and indigenous peoples. Does it always have to be this way? Why can’t we redefine or reframe our discussion about the social contract? 

First we have to understand what a social contract means. Many of us are unaware that we have voluntarily given up certain rights to our leaders when we become citizens of Malaysia. When we are born into this society, we automatically surrender some of our rights and freedoms in exchange for protection of our other rights. For example, we give up the freedom to rob our neighbor of his durians in return for the guarantee that others would not rob us of our mangoes. We have given legitimacy, or authority, to the government to make laws which will protect our lives, liberty and property. 

It is high time that we redefine the social contract in the Malaysian context. We Malaysians are more concerned about unemployment, paying bills, sending our children to good schools and financing our cars than the constant politicking about Ketuanan Melayu. We also expect more from the government when it comes to affordable housing, public transportation, traffic flow, delivering of basic services and policing. On our part, we work every day so that our lives and the lives of our family members will get better and that we can live in comfort, peace and happiness. Does our current social model accommodate our want for a better life? It most definitely does not. The new Malaysian Social Contract must then be defined in terms of ‘livability’ and ‘responsibility’. 

Livability is an increasingly important concept because of the rapid rate of urbanization in Malaysia. The proportion of urban population increased to 71% in 2010 compared to 62% in 2000, which means that more and more Malaysians are moving to tightly-packed and dense areas. Whether these areas are livable or not depend on a number of factors which include its built and natural environments, economic and educational opportunities, cultural and recreational possibilities, all of which add to the community’s quality of life. Public policies and urban planning play a significant role in increasing the livability in these urban communities, whether it is through additional bus routes, affordable housing or more green spaces. 

Responsibility refers to both collective and individual responsibility. Elected officials have to show collective responsibility by making good and sound policy choices to enhance the livability of their constituencies. They are representing government bodies and agencies which exist to service and cater the needs of the rakyat. The quid pro quo nature of the social contract requires us citizens to carry out own individual civic responsibilities as well. We can exercise proper etiquette and practices so that we may all enjoy public goods and spaces, while maintaining and preserving a livable environment for all. 

It is clear that our new social construct will revolve around the relationship between livability and responsibility. This series of articles will provide insight to what the government needs to do to raise the quality of urban life by fulfilling basic needs and improving existing facilities, but also raise some important civic responsibilities which we Malaysians can perform from the comfort of our own homes or the small sacrifices which we can make for our collective benefit. 

Some examples will include very trivial insights into etiquette on public transport such as buses or trains; how to keep taxi drivers accountable; walking to places instead of driving, or bigger issues such as sharing public places and sustaining them through proper maintenance, not double parking and achieving a culture of compliance. Each article will consist of a public policy recommendation on an issue such as community policing, which involve tried and true examples from across the world, and an actionable – something which we the rakyat can act upon and ‘walk the talk’ and avoid playing the blame game which we are so fond of. 

I hope that through this series we Malaysians would start to talk in terms of ‘livability’ and ‘responsibility’ as we attempt to approach our struggles in life. How can we demand more from our elected representatives while shouldering our civic responsibilities? How can the government placate the wants and needs of its citizens? This is Malaysia's new social contract, and this should be the battleground for future elections. After all, we the rakyat will benefit from a government which is responsive in its policy-making.

Written for The Rakyat Post, Nov 17th

Dennis Kam