WHAT DOES SUBJECTIVE WELL-BEING MEAN TO SELETAR ORANG ASLI YOUTH? A CASE STUDY IN JOHOR, MALAYSIA

Abstrak

The economy remains the primary element used to measure Malaysians’ well-being index. Consequently, the concept of subjective well-being among Orang Asli youth remains unclear due to limited research on the subject. This study offers a holistic perspective on the subjective well-being of youth within the Orang Asli community. An individual’s values and perspectives, shaped through their experiences, are vital in determining their subjective well-being, considering other aspects of life such as culture, language, belief systems, and lifestyle. Therefore, this study aims to (i) explain the concept of subjective well-being among the Orang Seletar youth; and (ii) explore the indicators and domains of subjective well-being among these youths. A case study research design was employed in this qualitative study. Twenty (20) informants, aged 18 to 40 years, residing in Johor Bahru, participated in Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis of the findings identified seven (7) main themes related to the concept of subjective well-being among Orang Seletar youth: (i) tranquility; (ii) happiness; (iii) comfort; (iv) sufficiency; (v) preferences; (vi) awareness; and (vii) satisfaction. Regarding indicators and domains, the study identified eight (8) indicators of subjective well-being among these youths: (i) Sea and Environment; (ii) Spirituality; (iii) Family and Community Attachments; (iv) Cultural Preservation; (v) Basic Needs and Physical Infrastructure; (vi) Mental and Physical Health; (vii) Education; and (viii) Employment. Based on these indicators, five (5) domains of subjective well-being were found: (i) Spiritual Subjective Well-being; (ii) Social Subjective Well-being; (iii) Economic Subjective Well-being; (iv) Cultural Subjective Well-being; and (v) Health and Psychological Well-being. In conclusion, this study provides a basis for understanding the subjective well-being of the youth within the Seletar Orang Asli community. From the perspective of mainstream society, their lifestyle may appear modest and inadequate, but this does not accurately reflect their true experience, as objective well-being should not be the sole measure of a community's development. Greater emphasis on subjective well-being is essential to support the community’s thriving.