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       PETALING JAYA: Areas under 80 local authorities have been categorised as “happy” in a recent national Happiness Index study while another 34 are “moderately happy”.

       No areas were listed as “unhappy” in the Malaysian Urban Rural National Indicators Network on Sustainable Development (MURNInets) 2021 Happiness Index study.

       Out of the 114 areas surveyed, Majlis Perbandaran Kubang Pasu (Kedah), Dewan Bandaraya Kota Kinabalu (Sabah) and Majlis Daerah Beaufort (Sabah) were ranked the lowest at 112, 113, and 114, respectively. The cities scored 72.52%, 70.76% and 65.04% on the scale.

       MURNInets is a tool that measures the sustainability of areas under the local authorities under the supervision of PLANMalaysia, a department under the Housing and Local Government Ministry.

       Involving 40,925 respondents – over 57% of whom were male – the study found that the criteria that made Malaysians happy were family, health and being stress free.

       Factors that made Malaysians miserable were finance, local leaders and private services.

       The study also showed that the happiness trend in the country had been rising every year since 2015 when it recorded a level of 77.34%. It was 79.12% in 2016, 80.72% in 2018, 81.24% in 2019, 83.34% in 2020 and 85.12% in 2021.

       The local councils of Putatan, Bentong, and Kuala Terengganu recorded a happiness score of 100%. Kuala Lumpur’s City Hall was ranked 95 with a score of 78.41%, giving it a moderate happiness status.