Friday 16 November 2012

MALAYSIA HAPPINESS INDEX : A MAJOR STEP FORWARD | from The Star Online

A major step forward - Opinion | The Star Online
ON April 9, I had written to the press and posed the question: “Can Malaysia take up the challenge to adopt the UN Happiness Index? Yes we can and we should!” Thus, like all or most Malaysians, I am very encouraged that our Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak officially announced a Malaysian Happiness Index last Saturday, and also rated Malaysia’s Happiness Index at 7.55 on a scale of 10 and graded it a B Plus! This announcement is a major step forward in our socio-economic and even political policy and planning. It transforms the traditional emphasis on economic measurement of national and the individual well-being and progress to a much more meaningful and holistic measurement of our national progress.  No more then should we give almost exclusive attention to the Gross National Product (GNP) as the almost only measurement of our progress, but move more purposefully towards quantifying our quality of life and our advancement in more human terms, that relate more directly to our human welfare.
However, while we warmly welcome this new policy transformation, we must raise questions of how this new Malaysian Happiness Index and its rating have been devised and rated so specifically at B plus? Malaysians would want to know what constitutes the index and how has it been assessed?  Have the Malaysian public, professionals, academicians and all interested parties, been consulted about the methodology, and quality of this important index.   In short, has there been adequate transparency, accountability and integrity shown to ensure the credibility and public acceptability of this vital index. After all, this index could well determine the future direction of our economy and our national well-being and future? Thankfully, we are told that multi-components of the index, such as the crime rate, pollution, traffic woes, maternity leave and possibly even family happiness, have been taken into account
But the question arises as to whether some other very significant and even overriding issues have been seriously considered in compiling this index. For instance, have we included national unity, poverty of the bottom 40%, the widening income disparities, human rights, racial and religious polarisation and understanding and a host of components that normally would be covered in any sound Happiness Index. Unless and until we include major structural and policy transformations for the fair implementation of current affirmative action policies, that should be based on income and basic needs that benefit all Malaysians, the index will become unacceptable, disuniting and even destabilising. Hence we must take the bull by the horns otherwise national, societal and individual happiness and real national unity will continue to evade us all.
As we must all be aware, the United Nations has its own professionally and universally accredited and acceptable Happiness Index. In that index, Malaysia was ranked 51 out of 156 countries last year. Hence Malaysians will want to know how our own internal index compares in methodology, quality and professional integrity, with the UN index? This kind of cross reference is essential to improve the credibility, acceptability and respect for our own Malaysian-made Happiness Index.
TAN SRI RAMON NAVARATNAM
Chairman, Asli Center of Public Policy Studies

Saturday 3 November 2012

KNOWLEDGE SHARING PLATFORM WITH SECRETARY GENERAL 1 NOVEMBER 2012


Where
:
Razak School of Government
Who
:
Datuk Arpah Abdul Razak, Secretary General to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government ( “MHLG”)
About the KSU Vision Session:

This KSU Vision session would allow YBhg. Datuk Arpah Abdul Razak to share her Ministry’s initiatives in their roles in the development for Quality Homes and neighbourhood for all Malaysians. Various collaborative efforts between agencies in under her purview were discussed. The main National Blue Ocean Strategy towards neighbourhood improvements were discussed at length as it involves various stakeholders.
 
 
Summary
The vision ‘Providing quality and Safe environment for all Malaysians” is hope to achieve an ideal socio economic balance for the quality of living for all Malaysians especially the lower income group. The Ministry has embarked on various programmes such as the “Housing for the ‘Rakyat’”, Administration of the Local Councillors, Fire and Rescue Service, Rural and Urban Planning, Landscape Development, Solid and Waste Management were of key importance to this Ministry. The audience were highly interactive as there were a good balance of participants from the Academia, NGOs and government agencies.
 
Questions and Issues Raised:
1
Request for Sports Complex for “Persatuan Penduduk Bukit Jalil”?
2
What are the monitoring mechanisms for the Recycling Campaign so far?
3
What are MHLG initiatives on Abandoned Housing Projects, especially in Sabah?
4
Can a partnership be further built between IPTA and the Ministry of Housing and Local Government?
5
What are MHLG strategies in curbing the illegal money lender’s advertisement on the street?
 
 

PEOPLE AROUND ME..FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

PEOPLE AROUND ME..FAMILY AND FRIENDS.
To my Wife, Zulaini, my sons Zulazlan, Zulazman, Zulazmir, Zulazmin dan my daughter, Nuris Zulazlin...I love you all..thank you being with me

CIRCLE OF FRIENDS... KUALA LUMPUR PROJECT OFFICE

CIRCLE OF FRIENDS... KUALA LUMPUR PROJECT OFFICE
Thank you guys...for your support and encouragement

2007 / 2008 METHODOLOGY AND QUALITATIVE RESEARCH COURSE FOR PHD CANDIDATES

2007 / 2008 METHODOLOGY AND QUALITATIVE RESEARCH COURSE FOR PHD CANDIDATES
My new friends during my course in INTAN 9 Jan -2 Mac 2007

KUALA LUMPUR PROJECT OFFICE, JOURNEY TO MOUNT OF KINABALU SABAH 21-22 JANUARY 2006

KUALA LUMPUR PROJECT OFFICE, JOURNEY TO MOUNT OF KINABALU SABAH 21-22 JANUARY 2006
WE CAME, WE SAW, WE CONQUERED 4095.2 METER ABOVE SEA LEVEL

How are you, guys? Where you are now?

FOOD CLOCK