By : Zaki Salleh
IPOH: Residents of 10 cities listed as the happiest in Malaysia for 2026 are undoubtedly fortunate and enjoy a consistently cheerful quality of life.
The recognition was conferred by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT) based on its assessment.
It reflects the level of well-being among residents as well as the improving quality of life across various regions of the country.
Three of the cities are located in Johor — Kluang, Mersing and Simpang Renggam — while Terengganu also features prominently with Kuala Terengganu, Marang and Permaisuri.
Two others are in Pahang, namely Bandar Lipis and Raub, followed by Dabong (Kelantan) and Ranau (Sabah).
Unfortunately, the city of Ipoh did not make the list, which would otherwise have delighted its residents.
According to a KPKT statement, the selection of these cities was based on a comprehensive evaluation of community well-being.
This includes aspects such as basic amenities, living environment, safety, as well as social balance among residents.
“This recognition is in line with the government’s efforts to create sustainable, inclusive and highly liveable cities,” the statement said.
Interestingly, this year’s list shows the dominance of small and medium-sized towns compared to major cities.
This proves that happiness does not necessarily depend solely on rapid development or population density.
East Coast towns such as Kuala Terengganu, Marang and Permaisuri recorded encouraging achievements.
Meanwhile, Johor also stood out with three cities listed — Kluang, Mersing and Simpang Renggam.
In addition, the inclusion of Ranau as Sabah’s representative reflects a balance in development between Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia.
The announcement is also expected to serve as a benchmark for local authorities to continue improving the quality of services and facilities.
This is to ensure that more cities in Malaysia achieve a high level of happiness in the future.
