Improve housing needs, environment to attain better family wellbeing index: Rohani

KUALA LUMPUR: The country needs to improve the housing needs and environment to achieve a better family wellbeing index, said Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim.
She said based on the Malaysian Family Wellbeing Index (IKK) 2016, the housing and environment domain recorded the lowest score at 6.24 from a maximum scale of 10 compared to seven other domains found in the study.
"The IKK 2016 study revealed that Malaysians still need affordable housing facilities regardless in the villages or towns because with their own houses, the wellbeing of family life will improve.
"Facilities that ensure a clean and comfortable environment should also be provided to enable Malaysians to enjoy comfortable living without pollution," Rohani said after she appeared as a guest in the Bernama News Channel's 911 programme in conjunction with World Population Day 2017 here today.
The seven domains found in the IKK 2016 study are family, role of religion and spiritual practice (8.04), family safety (7.96), family relationships (7.90), family and community participation (7.84), family health (7.18), family economy (7.05) and family and communications technology (6.38).
Rohani said following the study, her ministry had submitted a report to all mentri besar and chief ministers so that appropriate action could be taken in efforts to improve family wellbeing in the country and raise the index score of the IKK study in 2018.
Meanwhile, she said, in conjunction with the World Population Day 2017, the Ecofamily 2017 community programme would be carried out throughout this month to raise the wellbeing of the family and local community.
The programme will be implemented in 14 selected communities in the Family and Community Empowerment programme nationwide which will commence in Beaufort, Sabah on July 14. — Bernama