Mohamad Zahri (right) receiving the Happiest City 2024 award from Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming at PLANMalaysia in Putrajaya as Petaling Jaya deputy mayor Aznan Hassan looks on.
Mayor Mohamad Zahri Samingon wants Petaling Jaya residents to know the benefits of living in the city that has been named one of the happiest in the country this year.
When news of the accolade by the Housing and Local Government Ministry was posted on Petaling Jaya City Council’s (MBPJ) social media, he said the public had asked what the city council had done to receive the recognition.
“MBPJ should engage with the public and let them know what they enjoy as the city’s residents,” Mohamad Zahri said at a full board meeting.
The happiness index is based on a study carried out across 144 local authorities acorss the country.
The index is measured by the Malaysian Urban Rural National Indicators Network for Sustainable Development, known as Murninets through PLANMalaysia.
The objective is to recognise the relationship between physical, social and environmental development.
The residents’ emotional and mental well-being is also measured through the survey.
The survey was conducted by MBPJ among residents across various age groups and backgrounds, said Mohamad Zahri.
The questionnaire, he added, consisted of 14 components including psychological well-being, liveable community, cultural diversity and sustainability, healthcare, education, various ecology, quality of life and administrative efficiency.
About 450 respondents participated in the survey this year.
Separately, Mohamad Zahri said the city’s community grant programme known as PJ Seed (Social, Environment & Economy Development) was open for application until April 30.
Some RM2.4mil has been awarded to selected organisations since the grant’s inception.
The forms can be obtained from MBPJ’s website at www.mbpj.gov.my
Meanwhile, the Safe City neighbourhood programme has distributed RM3,000 each to 145 applicants.
This consists of 77 residents association, 31 Rukun Tetangga, 33 joint management bodies and four village community management councils.
