The paper aims to enhance our understanding of
sustainable city through the concept of subjective well-being and happiness of
the people. Malaysia committed to ensure high quality of life (QoL) in urban
and rural areas. Government’s role is to enable people to have fair access now
and in the future to the social, economic and environmental resources needed to
achieve well-being. The QoL for Malaysians improved through better access to
healthcare, public transport, electricity and water. Measures were also taken
to create a caring society and promote community well-being. Economic
development was based on sustainability principles to ensure that the
environment and natural resources are preserved so that growth will not come at
a cost to future generations. The Federal Department of Town and Country
Planning (FDTCP) is a focal point for Malaysian Urban-Rural National Indicators Network for Sustainable Development (MURNInets) is now incorporating happiness
indicators into the framework. Happiness Index Study (HIS) in MURNInets is
a primary data collection jointly between local authorities and residents. Which
Local Authority in Malaysia has the happiest bunch of communities? What are
they not happy about? The aspects taken into
account – relationship with family, neighbourhood and environmental atmosphere,
interaction between people, safety of the population, level of health
facilities and level of local authority services in their area. A good physical
environment provides the foundation for sustainable as necessary conditions for
physical and economic vibrancy. Most people tend to associate happiness with
feeling good, that is, with a life that offers a variety of pleasures and
comforts. Happiness associate with achieving everything they have set out to
achieve in life. Everyone who wishes to can find something that keeps them
engaged and energetic in their work and their community, and in that way create
a vibrant city
Keywords
: subjective well-being, urban sustainability, liveable, vibrant, happiness
index
Futher enquiry about this article 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
