Survey wants to know how happy you are

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PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS: (seated from left) Ting, Chai and Ha together with other committee members in a group photo after launching the Happiness Index Survey, which will target 5,000 respondents of all races and from diverse professions.

KUCHING: The Kuching Chinese General Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Young Entrepreneurs Committee is conducting a survey to find out the happiness level of our citizens.

Committee chairman Chai Hui Kiong pointed out yesterday that the focus of the ‘Happiness Index’ survey was to collect data on local community well-being and to examine how people evaluate their life.

“With the national Happiness Index in place, we decided to launch a local survey to measure the happiness level for Kuching and would expand it statewide if possible,” he said at the launching of the survey at Wisma Chinese Chambers at Jalan Bukit Mata here.

According to the United Nation (UN)’s World Happiness Report 2012, Malaysia was ranked the world’s 51st happiest country among 156 countries, measured via a country’s economic performance in gross national product or gross domestic product.

Moreover, Chai said that the local Happiness Index could serve as an indicator for government and policymakers, especially in reference to the 10th Malaysia Plan which gave emphasis on improving the standard and sustainability of quality of life.

“This way, we could also get an in-depth understanding on the sort of problems our community is facing before seeking solutions,” he emphasised.

“That aside, it is also a great platform for the public as well as other organisations and associations to have their voices heard through dialogue, sharing, exchange and collaboration across different sectors,” he said.

“In such a way, we could interact more to promote better understanding of people of diverse cultures within our unique community,” he added.

The survey will be carried out for three months until end of October after which the data will be analysed for a concluding report to be submitted to the chamber’s headquarters.

“We will also consider submitting the final report to the Prime Minister’s Department for their reference,” Chai said,

The survey questionnaires, added Chai, featured several different criteria such as income, jobs, health, safety and housing.

“We want a broader view on how people evaluate their life because it is not only money that could affect the level of our happiness but other factors as well including the quality of our environment, political situation and our social environment,” he explained.

The extensive survey, Chai said, available in three languages – English, Mandarin and Bahasa Malaysia – will be carried out in both online and offline medium in which respondents will be required to answer 17 questions.

“We are targeting for 5,000 respondents of all races and from diverse professions including professional, business, students and both private and public sectors,” he said.

The youth team will also go down to the ground to personally interview individuals while survey questionnaires have also been distributed to organisations and associations.

“We hope to collect as much data as possible for a more balanced review on the Happiness Index,” he added.

The youth committee also hopes that their initiative will encourage and motivate more youths to get involved in community-related activities to bring positive change to the society.

The survey can be accessed through its website at http://kcgcci.xpandsolution.com

Present at the event were the youth committee’s vice chairmen Ting Wei Zen and Ha Tung Ing, secretary Tan Chen Sin as well as other members.