Malaysian well-being index up 2.5% in 2022

 

Chief Statistician Uzir Mahidin said the three highest components that contributed to the increase in well-being were entertainment and recreation, transport and culture. (Bernama pic)

PUTRAJAYA: The Malaysian well-being index (MyWI) increased 2.5% to 121.2 points in 2022, from 118.3 points in 2021, thanks to positive growth of economic and social well-being, according to the statistics department.

Chief Statistician Uzir Mahidin said Malaysia’s transition into the endemic phase starting April 2022 with the reopening of the economy in stages, had a positive impact on both sub-composites.

“The economic well-being sub-composite increased 3.6% in 2022 to 130 points, from 125.5 points in 2021.

“The social well-being sub-composite increased 1.8% to 116.4 points, from 114.3 in the same period.

“Malaysian well-being in 2022 represents the endemic and recovering phases of Covid-19,” he said in a statement, adding that the positive growth in the index was contributed by the increase of 11 out of 14 economic and social components in 2022.

According to Uzir, the three highest components that contributed to the increase in MyWI were entertainment and recreation (20.8%), transport (8.0%) and culture (6.5%), while the three components showing a decline were public safety, governance, and social participation.

“The public safety index decreased by 9.4% to 126.1 points in 2022, from 139.2 points in 2021. The decline is attributed to the increase in the number of road crashes in tandem with the reopening of borders, as well as economic activities.

“This was followed by a 2.3% decrease in the governance component to 120.8 points in 2022, from 123.7 points in 2021 mainly due to the decrease in the percentage of corruption cases prosecuted, the percentage of e-filing users and the percentage of cases solved by the Public Complaints Bureau.

“The social participation component also recorded a decrease of 0.08% to 130.2 points in 2022, from 130.3 points in 2021 following the decline in membership of Rela and the number of registered non-profit organisations,” he said.

Meanwhile, Uzir said the state well-being index’s performance for all states recorded an increase in the index points in 2022.

Three states that recorded the highest increase in index points were Perlis, up to 115.2 points in 2022 from 112.3 points in 2021; followed by Sarawak, up to 119.5 points in 2022, from 116.7 points in 2021; and Perak, up to 118.5 points, from 116.1 points in the same period. - FMT