TEACH-IN PROGRAMME ON MURNInets PORTAL FOR LOCAL AUTHORITIES, STATE PLANNING AND DATA PROVIDERS 17 - 20 APRIL 2012

Further information kindly contact : 

DR. AZMIZAM ABDUL RASHID

 Research and Development Division,
 Federal Department of Town and Country Planning,
 Ministry of Housing and Local Government,
 Unit No. 50-12-2B, & 50-13-1, Wisma UOA Damansara,
 No. 50, Jalan Dungun, Damansara Heights,
 50490 Kuala Lumpur,
 Malaysia
 email address : azmizam@townplan.gov.my or azmizam67@yahoo.co.uk

TEACH-IN PROGRAMME ON MURNInets PORTAL FOR LOCAL AUTHORITIES, STATE PLANNING AND DATA PROVIDERS IN CENTRAL,SOUTHERN, EASTERN AND NORTHERN REGIONS AT BERJAYA TIMES SQUARE HOTEL 17 - 20 APRIL012

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NEW GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK

Recently, studies  shown that public accept Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Abdul Razak's leadsership is high. The majority is satisfied with his performance. However two of the main things in the hearts of the people are, first, the cost of living associated with wages and incomes, and second, mature democracy associated with the political transformation.The Prime Minister is committed to both these matters. Therefore, he announced the New Remuneration of Public Service (SBPA) and the Peace Assembly 2011 (PA2011). The response of the people of the two announcements was very encouraging. But, unfortunately, due to the lack of consultation the government agencies responsible for the two initiatives with interested parties, then, there are weaknesses in PA2011, while the SBPA is canceled.  These two cases represent narratives that perception gap. Meaning, people receive good Najib policies, but doubts on the implementation by government agencies.

The question is, what should be done to bridge the perception gap? To me, one of the answer is to create "new governance framework". What is commonly discussed is good governance. Good governance such as transparency and accountability is part of the new governance framework. However, the new governance framework is wider than good governance. New governance framework refers management a better country than what it is today. What is now the frame is too oriented government.  This framework is not ideal. This is because in the nation today, in addition to the government, there are two other development sectors, namely business and civil society.New governance framework involving all three sectors, namely government, business and civil society as partners in the development of synergies and decision-making structure for all sectors at all levels.  New governance framework predicate of some contemporary political thought. These include the often expressed as the Prime Minister, that the days in which government knows everything is over and the recognition of civil society organizations; democracy is not only limited to the election, and people want to speak and participate in decision making.

Today, the business sector and civil society is involved in decision-making structures and processes are limited. New governance model that perfectly frame is not available.   Now, it has been extended to state and district levels. The latest, it will be expanded as the Youth Parliament.  What new governance framework relevant to people's perception gap on Najib and the government? The answer is that this framework will provide opportunities for all three sectors of the development to provide genuine consultation, which describes the policies, get feedback and thus produce the best results. It will reduce the likelihood of the gap between the announced policy to implementation. In addition, the fact that what is important is that the new governance framework is part of the practice of "new politics", the political culture of a more healthy and fresh towards a mature democracy and progressive according to the political landscape today.

MURNInets AND HAPPINESS INDEX STUDY: RELEVANCE REFERENCES

Journal of Happiness Studies : An Interdisciplinary Forum on Subjective Well-Being

Editor-in-Chief: Antonella Delle Fave, ISSN: 1389-4978 (print version), ISSN: 1573-7780 (electronic version)

The peer-reviewed Journal of Happiness Studies is devoted to scientific understanding of subjective well-being. Coverage includes both cognitive evaluations of life such as life-satisfaction, and affective enjoyment of life, such as mood level. In addition to contributions on appraisal of life-as-a-whole, the journal accepts papers on such life domains as job-satisfaction, and such life-aspects as the perceived meaning of life.

The Journal of Happiness Studies provides a forum for two main traditions in happiness research:

1) speculative reflection on the good life, and

2) empirical investigation of subjective well-being.

Contributions span a broad range of disciplines: alpha-sciences, philosophy in particular; beta-sciences, especially health related quality-of-life research; and gamma-sciences, including not only psychology and sociology but also economics. The journal addresses the conceptualization, measurement, prevalence, explanation, evaluation, imagination and study of happiness.

International Journal of Happiness and Development (IJHD)

ISSN (Online): 2049-2804 - ISSN (Print): 2049-2790

IJHD is an interdisciplinary journal that seeks to broaden our understanding of ‘happiness’ and how it may relate to development from economic, political, psychological, and/or sociological perspectives. The journal entertains all definitions of happiness, including ‘subjective well-being’ or ‘life satisfaction’ – commonly used terms in economics. It welcomes rigorous and scientific papers that provide theoretical or empirical investigations which improve our understanding of how happiness is generated and how it may relate to development – interpreted at both micro and macro levels.

The objective of IJHD is to encourage applied and pragmatic critical analysis of issues relating to happiness and development. The journal seeks to establish an effective channel of communication between researchers, policy makers, practitioners and readers interested in individual or societal happiness. IJHD contributes to policy debate or controversies which reflect a range of views on the causes of increased happiness and the consequences of individual or country levels of happiness. IJHD publishes original papers, review papers, case studies and book reviews. Special Issues devoted to important topics in happiness, well-being and development are occasionally published.

URBAN REGENERATION FOR LIVEABLE COMPACT CITY