PUTRAJAYA: The towns of Simpang Renggam, Kluang, and Mersing in Johor, as well as Dabong in Kelantan, and Lipis and Raub in Pahang, are among the 10 towns that received the Happiest Town Award for 2026 on Tuesday (April 7).
Also listed are Kuala Terengganu City, Marang, and Permaisuri in Terengganu, and Ranau in Sabah, which received the award from Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming.
Nga said the measurement of the Urban Happiness Level in Malaysia is integrated with the Malaysia Happiness Index, which is implemented by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM).
"This ensures that the evaluation of urban happiness is more comprehensive and balanced, whereby the measurement by DOSM represents an overall picture of the well-being of the people at the national, state, and district levels.
"The MURNInets measurement complements the analysis by taking into account residents’ actual experiences regarding the quality of the environment and urban services,” he said when speaking at the national-level 2026 World Happiness Day celebrations here today.
MURNInets is a system used to measure and evaluate the sustainability of areas under local authorities through a set of established urban indicators.
He said that based on the 2026 Ipsos Happiness Report released on March 19, Malaysia’s reported happiness level is higher than the global average, at 81 per cent compared to 76 per cent in 2025.
"This means that the Madani Government’s policies to improve people’s well-being are beginning to bear fruit. We will continue to strengthen the Madani framework to protect the people from uncertainties, disorder, and global turmoil,” Nga added.
In line with efforts to strengthen public well-being, he also shared four simple principles for building a happier life, including cultivating gratitude daily by focusing on what one has, fostering a sense of sufficiency, and appreciating the small things in life.
"We must also remain positive, stay away from negative elements, and practise a healthy lifestyle through balanced nutrition, physical activity, and adequate rest,” he said. - Bernama
