SHAH ALAM: Selangor ranks 14th out of Malaysia’s 16 states and federal territories in the latest national happiness index, trailing behind most of the country despite its economic dominance.
Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said that while the state sits near the bottom of the list, it remains ahead of Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
He argued that the low rankings of Malaysia’s three highest-earning regions prove that wealth is not a definitive gauge of well-being.
“There are 13 indicators set by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) that measure aspects of happiness,” Amirudin said in response to a question from Mohd Shafie Ngah (PN–Sungai Ramal).
“Among the highest scores for Selangor are family, religion, education, housing, and the environment,” the Mentri Besar said during the Selangor state assembly sitting in Bangunan Dewan Negeri Selangor in Shah Alam today (April 29).
Despite the overall state ranking, Amirudin highlighted that Ampang, Petaling Jaya, and Klang are officially recognised as the happiest areas under local authority management.
To lift the state’s standing, the government is targeting key stressors, including housing costs, public transport, and poverty. Amirudin detailed an aggressive housing strategy to ease the burden on residents.
“We have launched housing projects amounting to 170,000 units, of which 40,000 are in various stages of development through our subsidiaries,” he said.
“I believe more than 15,000 affordable homes have already been provided to residents, and we have also introduced the Smart Sewa Scheme to assist renters.”
Addressing frustrations over the public transport in the state, Amirudin pointed to the Smart Selangor Bus programme as a vital lifeline for many commuters.
He added that the state is now exploring Demand-Responsive Transit (DRT) to improve “last-mile” connectivity, though he admitted its effectiveness still requires refinement.
