DOSM to conduct online population census in 2020
PUTRAJAYA: The Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) will introduce an online population census known as ECensus in the census programme implementation year in 2020 in line with the technological advancement and people’s lifestyle changes in Malaysia, said its Chief Statistician, Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin.
He said the department had targeted 30 per cent to 40 per cent of the country’s total population to use the E-Census system that year, especially among the urban population.
“The system is suitable for adaptation considering the current lifestyle of the people who may not be at home when the officers on duty conduct the census at their houses,” he said.
“However, the house-to-house census will be continued in certain places especially in the rural areas,” he said to Bernama after the Stats Asean Putrajaya Run 2017 recently.
Besides saving manpower cost, the system would also produce more accurate information, he said.
Before implementing the ECensus system, the DOSM would introduce a special application to enable the users to participate in the census just by using the smartphones.
“Poplulation census in Malaysia is undertaken once every 10 years, and the Statistics Department will also obtain birth and death rates from the National Registration Department every year,” he said.
On MyLocal Stats application, which was introduced in mid-2016 that provides information and data for every district in Malaysia, Mohd Uzir said the department would add more information on the system.
“At the moment, the application provides information such as number of industries and companies, birth and death rates and the total population according to gender and age for each district.
“The department will soon introduce data on district administration such as the number of schools and hospitals. It will also get the cooperation from the Police Department on accident and crime rates in the district,” he said.
Meanwhile, some 4,000 participants took part in the biennial Stats Asean Putrajaya Run 2017 to celebrate Statistics Day on Oct 20. — Bernama