Revisiting the Social Contract: The Malaysia-Borneo Perspectives

Joe Samad, a passionate writer on contemporary Malaysian issues, expresses deep concerns about Malaysia's direction. While acknowledging the existence of the pre-Merdeka “social contract”, he highlights two significant reservations. Firstly, he criticises how Peninsula politicians intermittently exploit the social contract to stoke communal fears, hatred, and distrust among races. Secondly, he emphasises that the pre-Merdeka social contract holds less relevance for the Borneo States. These states, upon agreeing to form Malaysia in 1963, negotiated terms emphasising autonomy, revenue sharing, and protection for Borneo's indigenous peoples. This "Borneo perspective," often overlooked, offers insights spanning historical, political, and economic dimensions.

Although not explicitly stated, Joe Samad implies that a new “social contract” might have been effectively renegotiated in 1963 between the Peninsula and the Borneo States. Amendments to the Federal Constitution significantly accommodated the states' demands for greater autonomy and revenue sharing. However, the outcomes have not met expectations, with inherent tensions typical in federal systems worldwide, including Malaysia.