National statistical system needs improvement – Zuki

KUALA LUMPUR: The national statistical system needs to be improved to ensure data synchronisation, for the government to formulate policies and make decisions, Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali said.

He said the government had agreed that for the country’s statistical system to be enhanced it should be led by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM) which acts as the central agency in coordinating the statistical system.

“DOSM will be responsible for assisting, coordinating and controlling the production of statistics of ministries, departments and agencies,” he said when delivering his keynote address before officiating the My Local Stats 2020 Seminar: District & Local Statistics Towards Resource Management Efficiency, via live streaming on the DOSM Facebook page.

Mohd Zuki said related studies would in future be controlled to follow the set standards and the statistics released would be confirmed by DOSM.

According to him, granular administrative data is an important source of data for the government because it could reduce dependence on primary data collected by surveys and indirectly, the use of secondary data could reduce costs on data collection.

He said the reality today is, every available data is not rigid and can be everywhere.

“Ministries, federal and state agencies, local authorities (PBT) and government-linked companies (GLCs) have their own database that are stand alone or in silos.

“These agencies or bodies are not coordinated and their use of methodology, standards, concept and definition may differ at times,” he said.

In addition, he said, the government has also introduced the Chief Data Officer (CDO) position in ministries, departments and agencies under the purview of DOSM, in efforts to develop a systematic mechanism for data coordination, access and sharing.

“Strengthening the country’s statistical system will bring positive results, among them it will ensure availability of more comprehensive data in the government sector in formulating the country’s short-term and long-term policies.

“Apart from that this will increase the number of analytical experts, related to all economic, social and demographic fields, who are among the ministries and agencies’ officers.” he said.

He added that effective economic and social development plans create a positive impact on society and could boost well-being and prosperity of the nation.

“Statistics can eliminate uncertainties and help the government to make decisions based on facts,” he said.