Ruler concerned over attempts to ‘undermine social contract’

(Bernama) KANGAR: The Raja of Perlis Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Syed Putra Jamalullail is concerned over what he described as attempts to undermine the social contract which has been the ingredient for the harmonious relationship among the people.

He said that racial and religious issues being raised by certain quarters to further their narrow agenda were among challenges faced by the country and the people in maintaining the contract.

“I would like to stress that it is our actions that determine whether the social contract is beneficial to us. We are responsible to make it a success or otherwise,” he said in his speech at the investiture ceremony in conjunction with his 66th birthday at Istana Arau yesterday.

He reminded the people that failure to defend it was an insult to the country’s forefathers, who had worked tirelessly to put in place a contract, albeit an unwritten one.

Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin also congratulated Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak on his appointment as the Prime Minister and expressed gratitude to former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi for administering the country well during his tenure.

Earlier, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Md Isa Sabu, in his loyalty pledge, expressed the hope that the people would be with the govern-ment and contribute ideas on how to further develop the state.

He said Perlis is expected to receive RM291.54mil from the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority to develop the agriculture, infrastructure and tourism sectors, as well as carry out social and human capital development programmes.

“The state government will give priority to local workers in the implementation of projects under the Northern Corridor Econo-mic Region,” he said.